Petkovic: Expulsion of Serbs real reason for Pristina's dinar ban

BELGRADE - At a meeting with German Ambassador to Belgrade Anke Konrad, the head of the Serbian government Office for Kosovo-Metohija Petar Petkovic warned that an expulsion of Serbs from Kosovo-Metohija and abolition of Serbian institutions in the province were the real reasons behind Pristina's ban on the Serbian dinar, which took effect on February 1.

Petkovic said it was easy to see through Pristina's intent to close the subject of forming a Community of Serb Municipalities by making such a decision as agreements signed to date envisioned Belgrade as a provider of financial support to Kosovo-Metohija Serbs.

Petkovic said Belgrade would continue to insist on the establishment of the Community, the Office for Kosovo-Metohija said in a statement.

He said a recent Brussels meeting had addressed the "completely unreasonable and dangerous decision" by Pristina's...