Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Đurić: Priština is violating the freedom of movement agreement, again

The Minister of Education, Mladen Šarčević, and the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Đurić, were not allowed to pass today at the Jarinje administrative crossing, and go to Kosovska Mitrovica.

Đurić warned that the freedom of movement agreement has been violated, as well as everything discussed in relation to this type of activity, and Šarčević called it „uncivilized behavior and a strange act“, pointing out that they were turned away from the crossing as if they were „smugglers“.

„I can only say that this is part of a wider scenario of attempts to destabilize Belgrade-Priština relations, attempts at preventing the normalization of relations, and among other things, attempts at preventing the establishment of the parliamentary majority for creating the institutions in Priština“, Đurić told Tanjug, stressing the visit was duly announced.

Đurić believes that obviously „someone wants to provoke chaos“ by pointing a finger in the eye and by trying to shut down Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija, and all he can say to this is that Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija will not be extinguished, but new ones will be opened.

Đurić said that, despite of being prevented, they could have visited Kosovska Mitrovica but, as he said, they didn’t want to jeopardize anyone’s security.

„Even the security of those Albanian... policemen are they, people in uniforms. We didn’t want to jeopardize their security, but we will continue to visit Kosovska Mitrovica and Kosovo and Metohija whenever we want to and whenever we consider it necessary“, Đurić said.

Noting that Serbian institutions will continue to function and strengthen, as well as the entire Serbian system, Đurić said that we will „welcome better and freer days for our people in Kosovo and Metohija“.

Đurić said that the visit was duly announced to the Priština institutions, and that this was „Priština’s failed attempt“ to prevent the opening of the new student clinic in Kosovska Mitrovica.

„Those who want to shut down Serbian institutions in Kosovo and Metohija might be the ones experiencing the shutting down of their own institutions, because we’ve seen many times in the past that aggression and arrogance lead to defeat and I am convinced that this is what will happen in this case“, Đurić said.

He announced that Serbia, as a member of Interpol, will examine the responsibility of all those who hinder the freedom of movement and endanger human rights by arresting Serbs, and undertake other steps to violate interethnic relations and the political and security situation in Kosovo and Metohija.

Šarčević described his experience from the Jarinje crossing point as „very uncivilized behavior and strange act“ especially as “no one gave any reason for it”.

„Really, this is completely unreasonable, to be turned away as if we were smugglers at a border“, Šarčević told Tanjug.

Šarčević said that the Albanian side „knows very well“ that under Resolution 1244, Serbia is responsible for educating its citizens, as well for education plans, programs and all activities, from kindergarten to university.

„They had no reason or explanation“, Šarčević said, pointing out that he is not a politician.

He added that a lot of work was waiting for them in Kosovska Mitrovica and that the visit was announced. „We wanted to form a student parliament in Kosovska Mitrovica“, he said.

Šarčević asked EU and the representatives of provincial institutions if they think that after this he should receive the provincial Minister of Education when he comes to Belgrade for the Western Balkans Ministers’ Conference.

„I do not think I will. I have the right to say this publicly, and then they have to ask me why I won’t see him“, the Minister said.

Šarčević and Đurić were to open the Institute for Health Protection of Students in the Student City in Kosovska Mitrovica, as well as to meet the Acting Rector of the University of Priština with a temporary seat in Kosovska Mitrovica.

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