Petkovic, Deng discuss security situation in Kosovo-Metohija

BELGRADE - The head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic, who is on an official visit to China, met with Chinese Vice FM Deng Li on Monday.

Petkovic informed Deng of the difficult security situation for Kosovo-Metohija Serbs, especially since the advent of Pristina's PM Albin Kurti, and noted that violence against Serbs and other non-Albanians and violations of their fundamental human rights had increased rapidly since.

"In Pristina, there is no desire for compromise, dialogue and de-escalation of the current crisis, caused by Pristina itself through its violent and unilateral moves and by organising illegal elections and seizing Serb municipalities in the north of Kosovo-Metohija. The crisis being generated by Pristina is threatening to spill over across the region," Petkovic warned.

He particularly noted that Pristina had been refusing to form a Community of Serb Municipalities under the 2013 Brussels Agreement for ten years now.

Petkovic conveyed Serbia's full support to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of PR China and thanked China for its principled support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia, the Office for Kosovo-Metohija said in a statement.

In a cordial discussion, the parties expressed satisfaction with the excellent Serbia-China ties, characterised by a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and said a friendly relationship between Presidents Aleksandar Vucic and Xi Jinping lent a special quality to it.

They expressed readiness to further deepen all forms of cooperation and, to that end, to further intensify political dialogue at high and the highest level.

Deng, who is also secretary-general of the Chinese foreign ministry's secretariat for China-CEEC cooperation, especially noted that the Chinese side had begun intensive preparations for Vucic's upcoming visit to China for the third summit of the Belt and Road initiative, and noted that Vucic would be "welcomed like a brother," which is an expression that reflects the extremely high level of respect Vucic commands in China, the statement also said.

Deng conveyed assurances that China would continue to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Serbia and oppose Pristina's unilateral moves in a clear manner.

He noted that China supported a peaceful resolution of the Kosovo-Metohija issue based on UNSCR 1244, and especially noted Beijing's support for, and insistence on, the soonest possible establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities.