Djuric urges for protection of Metohija Serbs

KLINA - Director of the Serbian government's Office for Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) Marko Djuric said Monday that he expects the officials of ethnic Albanian political parties in KiM to provide support and protection to Serbs in the region of Metohija.

On a visit to the returnee village of Vidanje in the Klina municipality, northwestern Metohija, Djuric pointed out that the Serbs living in that part of KiM 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," Djuric 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 Pristina 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 Djuric, 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 KiM.

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