Vucevic: I am convinced accusations against Serbian Orthodox Church are completely untrue

BELGRADE - In a reaction to accusations by a British MP that the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) is smuggling weapons to Kosovo-Metohija, Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Wednesday the SPC had requested that the allegations be checked and that he was convinced they were completely untrue.

"The SPC is a part of the Christian tradition and, of course, a target of attacks. It has always been a pillar bringing people together. Very often, it has been a target of attacks by all those who wish no good to Serbia," Vucevic said in an appearance on Pink TV.

However, he noted that there were "even worse things" following announcements that a list of 45 Serbs Pristina wanted to arrest would be extended by 24 names.

"They are doing everything the Nazi regime was doing during the occupation," Vucevic said, adding that the list included the names of two Srpska lista leaders and former mayors from the north of Kosovo-Metohija.

Commenting on his recent conversation with Italian counterpart Guido Crosetto in Rome, Vucevic said he had informed the minister of the situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

He said Crosetto's approach had been very fair and that the Italian side had underscored Pristina was to blame for the escalation in Kosovo-Metohija.

"Last night I also spoke with Italian Deputy PM Matteo Salvini, who is very open towards Serbia. He said he is also ready to speak to media in the period to come to say the Serbs are not to blame and that everything that is going on is unacceptable. They had a fair attitude and they understood the situation that has befallen our people in Kosovo-Metohija. I do not think they will change their strategic position in terms of recognition, but I think they understood that everything that is going on is a provocation by ethnic Albanians," Vucevic said.

He reiterated that a difficult period was ahead when it comes to Kosovo-Metohija, but that there were also concerns over an increasingly complex situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and added that Bosnia and Herzegovina "can be even more complicated than Kosovo-Metohija."