Belgrade – Reacting to "Deutsche Welle" interview of the EU representative for the north of Kosovo Michele Giffon stating that the issue of Kosovo status is a closed issue for the EU and that attention should be focused on improving the lives of local people, the Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic gave the following statement:

‘EU representative for North Kosovo Michele Giffon obviously does not take into account the fact that there is a group of EU countries which he also represents, and which oppose unilateral independence of Kosovo and do not recognize the pseudo-state.

He is, of course, like any diplomat, very much aware of this fact and knows that the status of Kosovo and Metohija is not a fait accompli and that Pristina and Belgrade are yet to sit at the negotiating table and renew their dialogue on the status issue. Giffoni knows that without an agreement and compromise between Pristina and Belgrade there is no stability in the region.

Why then is Giffon making these claims? The answer is simple: we are approaching the May 30, elections day for the municipality of Mitrovica, organized by the state authorities of Serbia. These elections will once again confirm the seriousness and determination of the state of Serbia to preserve Kosovo and Metohija and demonstrate its principled policy based on international law. It is obvious that there is some anxiety, since Peter Feith, together with Pristina, has been wishfully thinking of organizing local elections in the northern Kosovska Mitrovica. They had been announcing them for 16 May and now that date has long passed, so what they now do is starting to shyly mention the month of September. The strategy for the north of Kosovo has fallen through, and this will become very clear to them on 30th May, when people take to the local elections in Mitrovica.

I see this statement as another futile provocation, in line of many yet to come by 30 May in order to implant doubt and create friction among the Serbs in Mitrovica. They are citing difficulties regarding our elections and persistently forget that the unilateral declaration of independence represented a far worse violation of the Resolution 1244 and the international law and order.

At the same time we have a much more serious issue looming upon us – is Mr. Feith really representing the EU and is EU changing its position regarding Kosovo and Metohija?

If so, then it represents a violation of the status neutrality and will certainly result in deterioration of relations with the EU on all levels.

At the same time it would also represent tramping down on the persistent constructiveness that Serbia so far demonstrated, and give us probable grounds for reviewing our actions going forward.’