Djurić: Why is the establishment of CSM being postponed?

Why hasn't the Community of Serbian Municipalities been established yet and how will visa liberalization for Kosovo affect Kosovo citizens who own Serbian biometric passports, were issues discussed during the first day of the resumed technical dialogue between the Belgrade and Priština delegation in Brussels.

The Director of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo and Metohija, Marko Djurić, said the Serbian delegation had also posed some difficult questions in Brussels today.

"What is happening with the Community of Serbian Municipalities? Until when will its establishment and the commencement of work be postponed? Why do we hear every day from Priština new negative things on the agreements that they themselves have made with us and signed", Djurić stated.

Among the issues raised by the Serbian delegation today before the Priština delegation, as well as EU mediators, were the ones related to the establishment of Serbian companies in the field of telecommunications, which will be able to operate freely in Kosovo, as well as the issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo and rights of Kosovo citizens who possess biometric passports issued by the Serbian state.

Asked by Tanjug whether the Serbian delegation received answers to some of the raised issues today in Brussels, Djurić said that he will believe in the answers only when their implementation begins.

While commenting on the information on reaching an agreement by which Croatia should unblock the opening of Chapter 23 in negotiations between Serbia and EU, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija said Serbia has model relations with all its neighbors and would like it if they served as a role model to many.

"We confirmed our efforts to preserve stability in the region. We will continue to conduct a policy that brings us closer to our neighbors in the interest of citizens of Serbia and all others living in the entire region. We will wait to see what will happen and then, those who are in charge will give a full assessment", Djurić stated in Brussels.