Minister Đurić condemns latest unilateral act by Priština

I strongly condemn the incursion by representatives of Priština's provisional institutions into the premises of the public utility company "Vodovod Ibar" in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. This represents a continuation of the practice of forcibly altering the situation on the ground and delivers yet another blow to efforts aimed at reviving a productive dialogue between Belgrade and Priština.

This unilateral and provocative act—undoubtedly conducted with the knowledge and approval of Albin Kurti—could have potentially dangerous consequences for the stability of the water supply to the Serbian population in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica. Of particular concern is the fact that it threatens the water supply of the hospital operating in that city as part of Serbia’s healthcare system, as well as local schools and kindergartens.

This is yet another brazen attack on the fundamental human rights of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, with the clear intent of making life unbearable for them and thereby accelerating the ongoing trend of their displacement from that part of Serbia’s southern province.

It is telling that Kurti’s administration chose to take such a step precisely at the time when the President of the European Council, António Costa, is visiting the region—an open act of defiance toward the European Union and its efforts to reinvigorate the process of normalization between Belgrade and Priština.

This sends an unmistakable message to Brussels: that Priština has no regard for EU values and no interest in being part of a joint process to resolve the issues concerning Kosovo and Metohija.

Let me also remind that the matter of public utility governance is part of the agreement on the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities—a commitment whose implementation Priština has been obstructing for twelve years.