Serbia: Vucic calls for UN reaction to 'inadmissible' attacks on Serbs in Kosovo

Aleksandar Vucic...

BELGRAD, January 16. /TASS/: Attacks on Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are unacceptable, and the UN should promptly react to them, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said as he met with Caroline Ziadeh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo and head of the UN Mission in Kosovo, on Monday.

"We consider the increasingly frequent attacks on Serbs, their property and heritage inadmissible, so a timely reaction, as well as condemnation of provocations by the international community, is very important," Vucic's press service quoted the president as saying.

The parties also emphasized the importance of continuing the activities of the UN Mission in Kosovo and informing the international community about the developments there in a timely manner.

More than 300 attacks, incidents and provocations against Serbs have been recorded in Kosovo and Metohija in the past two years, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic told journalists earlier on Monday.

"Over 300 separate attacks on the Serbian population, various incidents, attacks and provocations have taken place in Kosovo and Metohija in the past two years. Meanwhile, no one, not a single person has been held accountable for this, not even charged. This shows the state of security and the rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija," the prime minister stressed.

The Kosovo separatists use "petty terror" tactics against the Serbian population of the region. Attacks on citizens' homes and medical centers, arson, theft of livestock and equipment, as well as beatings are recorded in Kosovo on a regular basis. According to Serbian media reports, Albanian youths are attacking Serbian women walking with their children, throwing stones at Serbian pilgrims who have come to worship the local holy sites, and attacking Orthodox priests.

The Serbian autonomous province of Kosovo and Metohija declared unilateral independence in February 2008, and in recent years, it has been actively trying to join international organizations, including UNESCO and Interpol. More than 60 countries, including Russia, India and China, as well as five European Union member states, oppose the recognition of Kosovo.