Vucic: Issue of property in KiM should be opened urgently

BELGRADE - Serbia's Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said Monday that the issue of property in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) should be opened as soon as possible so Serbia would not end up having its property taken away from it "overnight."

Vucic told a press conference that, under all relevant laws and the Brussels agreement, the issue of property in Kosovo-Metohija had yet to be opened in the dialogue with Pristina.

He stressed that Serbia had insisted on opening the property issue be as soon as possible, because it would not allow the authorities in Pristina to do so after they took over everything, except for two small conglomerates in the KiM north (Serb-majority part of the province).

Vucic said that Serbia was working closely with the international community to resolve the issue.

Asked whether the international community was neutral on the issue, Serbia's prime minister said he believed it was.

On January 15, the government of Kosovo adopted amendments to the law on public enterprises, which should enable it to take over 100 percent of all ownership and management rights in the Mining, Metallurgical and Chemical Combine Trepca, and to take over some other companies.

The Serbian government has reacted sharply to Pristina's intentions, warning them that it will not allow the seizure of Serbia's public property, and Vucic immediately informed Western partners (Quint countries) and the EU about it.

The proposed amendments to the law on public enterprises were debated under emergency procedure at an extraordinary session of the Kosovo Assembly today.

Former giant Trepca, in which the Republic of Serbia Development Fund holds 56 percent stake, while the rest is owned by several Serbian companies and...