Kosovo office chief visits returnees

Kosovo office chief visits returnees

KLINA -- Marko Đurić says he "expects officials of ethnic Albanian political parties in Kosovo to provide support and protection to Serbs in Metohija."

The director of the Serbian Gvernment Office for Kosovo made the comments on Monday as he was visiting the village of Vidanje in the Klina municipality.

Đurić pointed out that Serbs living in that part of Kosovo are in the most difficult position, and stressed that he expects officials of the political parties of Kosovo Albanians to provide them support and protection.

"If you want Serbs to participate in the government, if you want the support of the Srpska slate in forming the government, you must provide support to the Serbs in Metohija, and show that you want the normalization of relations," Đurić told the Albanians in the province.

He stressed, however, that the biggest responsibility for the safety of Serbs and the normalization of relations lies with the holders of political power in the province.

He urged the authorities and institutions in Priština to improve their cooperation with Serbs and the Serb-majority municipalities "in order to solve the problems that are huge but still possible to resolve."

"We have extended our hand to the Albanians, and we expect them to provide safety to Serbs, which is an indispensable condition", said Đurić, adding that the Belgrade authorities have demonstrated that stability is in the long-term interest of Serbia and that they look after their citizens in Kosovo.

"We are sending a message to Kosovo Albanians, to those who decide today or who will be deciding in Priština tomorrow, that, if they want Serb participation in the government and the...