Djuric: Kosovo-Metohija to lose multiethnic character unless Pristina's moves are stopped

NEW YORK - Serbian FM Marko Djuric says Serbia's message at Wednesday's UN Security Council session on a report on UNMIK was that, unless Pristina's unilateral moves are stopped, the Autonomous Province of Kosovo-Metohija will lose its multiethnic character and the process of dialogue and normalisation of relations will not move forward.

"We sent a message that Serbia is a country that is looking to the future and seeing strong economic development, a country whose economy, institutions, infrastructure and regional ties are making progress, a country extending a hand to all, but one that cares about its dignity," Djuric told the RTS on Wednesday evening.

He said Serbia had also sent a message to ethnic Albanians in Kosovo-Metohija that the Serbs were not in conflict with them.

"We have a conflict and a problem with the Kurti regime, and we call on ethnic Albanians to reject extremism, ethnonationalist divisions and a policy that is returning the entire region to the past," Djuric noted.

He added that this was also a good message in the eyes of the international community as Serbia positioned itself as a responsible, rational and serious discussion partner that was helping a Serb community that was under pressure, discriminated against and in trouble while preserving stability and an orientation towards normal relations.

"Due to this, the contrast between Kurti's destructive actions and Serbia's desire to, above all, protect the fundamental human rights of Serbs has never been more stark," Djuric said.