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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Concern over increasingly complex situation in Kosovo-Metohija

Belgrade, 16 November 2018

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic expressed today during a meeting with Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Sem Fabrizi and ambassadors of the EU Member States worry over the increasingly complex situation in Kosovo-Metohija, bearing in mind that the interim institutions in Pristina do not respect dialogue and the agreements reached.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Brnabic recalled that the last report of the European Commission praised Pristina regarding the establishment of a group for drafting the statute for the Community of Serb Municipalities.

In view of the fact that no statute or the Community of Serb Municipalities have been established until today, attention should be paid as to how this will be treated in the next report, the Prime Minister underlined.

Brnabic said that she spoke with the ambassador about Chapter 35, i.e. the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

She underlined that Pristina, apart from failing to comply with the agreements, does not respect its Constitution either, bearing in mind the announced transformation of Kosovo security forces into so-called armed forces of Kosovo.

This is contrary not only to the Brussels Agreement and the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244, but also to their constitution, which states that such transformation must be backed by a majority support of the Serb deputies in the Kosovo Assembly.

Brnabic also pointed to Pristina's decision to introduce additional customs duties on Serbian goods in the amount of 10 percent, saying that that is as a violation of the CEFTA agreement precisely at the moment when Pristina is presiding over that organisation.

I have expressed my concern not only for further dialogue, but also for what might happen next if we have a constant violation of all agreements and contracts. I asked the ambassadors to take this seriously, the Prime Minister said, adding that she handed them over the letters that she had sent to all governments around the world, in which she warned of the complex situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

Responding to the questions of journalists, Brnabic said that the draft media strategy could be completed by the end of the year, noting that discussions with media associations are underway and that the working group charged with that matter is very active.

The Prime Minister announced that she will continue to talk with representatives of media associations, to see how satisfied they are with work and how to make progress.

Brnabic said that one issue has been solved, and that is paying VAT on media financing. She added that everyone remains committed to work and dialogue.

There is much work to be done to build confidence and I think that this is being achieved by resolving one problem at a time, the Prime Minister assessed.