The newly appointed head of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic started his first two-day visit in Kosovo, on Monday.
During the day, Petkovic visited the Hospital Clinical Center in Serb-run North Mitrovica, which operates within the healthcare system of the Republic of Serbia.
Petkovic held a meeting with the elected mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic and the leader of the Serbian List representing Kosovo Serbs in the central institutions, Goran Rakic.
He continued his visit at the Orthodox monastery in the municipality of Skenderaj where he met the Serbian Bishop Teodosije.
Bishop Teodosije described Petkovic’s visit as an encouragement to all Serbs in Kosovo, while Petkovic said that the state of Serbia and the Serbian Orthodox Church represent two unbreakable pillars of Serbian survival in Kosovo, the public broadcaster of Kosovo (RTK) reported.
The office of Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Avdullah Hoti confirmed for Exit News that the government gave Petkovic permission to visit Kosovo.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in consultation with Prime Minister Hoti, have given Mr. Petkovic permission to visit our country,” Hoti’s office told Exit News.
“The government respects the agreement reached in Brussels regarding the free movement and visits of senior Serbian officials, which clearly states that each request is analyzed by the competent institutions before being approved or rejected,” the answer continued.
Petar Petkovic wanted to visit Kosovo on November 21 alongside Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic and Serbia’s ambassador to United States of America, Marko Djuric, but his request was rejected by Kosovo’s institutions.
Kosovo’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Meliza Haradinaj Stublla did not give the green light to the visit, considering the request an “insult” against Albanians at a time when mortal remains were found in a mass grave in Serbia.
