Office for Kosovo and Metohija
Government of the Republic of Serbia

Municipalities from Central Serbia need to take care of municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija

Starting from today, municipalities from Central Serbia have a task to design how and in which way they can take over the care and protection of municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija with Serbian population, in order to be included in the common fight for the preservation of the Serbian people in that territory, said the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djurić.

Djurić believes it is very important for the Serbian municipalities in Kosovo and Metohija to know that the entire Serbia is taking care of them and that from today, about ten municipalities from Central Serbia will take care of each Serbian municipality in Kosovo and Metohija.

“Money is not a priority, but it is necessary that local self-governments organize themselves and help individually as much as they can. Sometimes it’s just a visit, sometimes we will find some businessmen from local municipalities who would offer scholarships for Serbian children in Kosovo and Metohija. The government and the municipalities that can, will give financial support”, Djurić said, after a meeting held within the internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija in Nis.

Djurić stressed that this meeting gathered mayors from entire Serbia and, according to him, it was agreed that each Serbian municipality in Kosovo and Metohija falls under the care and protection of 10 municipalities from Central Serbia, and that in this way, local self-governments from the territory of the entire country will be involved in the struggle for the preservation of our people in Kosovo.

“We are sending a clear message today that we are not threatening anyone, but we are protecting and defending what is ours and we know what is ours, we are united and showing solidarity, and will never give up”, Djurić said.

The Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Branko Ružić, who also attended the meeting, said that 1760 days have passed since the signing of the Brussels Agreement, which also envisages the establishment of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (CSM) in Kosovo and Metohija, and that Priština continues to prolong it.

“Priština needs to understand that, what is good for Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, is good for all, and not that what is good for Serbs is not good for Albanians”, Ružić said.

Djurić: It’s good that there is cooperation in the investigation

The Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djurić, stated today that it is a good thing that cooperation was established between the Serbian and provincial institutions regarding the Oliver Ivanović murder investigation.

“This is something we should praise and something that should be intensified, because we cannot be satisfied until the perpetrator, whichever the nationality, political orientation or background, is brought to justice. I believe that this is of vital interest for the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija”, Djurić said in Niš after the roundtable held within the internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija.

He added that he tried to help Oliver Ivanović as much as he could while he was in prison; he personally visited him several times, and was in constant contact with his family.

He added that he did not agree with Ivanović regarding local elections.

“I believe that Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija should be united. We can compete here, but we do not have the luxury to do so in Kosovo and Metohija. There, unity means survival”, he said.

The roundtable within the internal dialogue on Kosovo and Metohija was held at the University Rectorate in Niš, and organized by the Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities, the Working Group for the internal dialogue in the Government of Serbia and the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government.

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