Pacolli writing protest note, angry at Belgrade's decision

Pacolli writing protest note, angry at Belgrade's decision

"This contradicts the Brussels agreement that our two governments signed four years ago, and on this occasion we will write a protest note," Pacolli said.

The Bosniak National Council invited on Pacolli to visit Novi Pazar, while Belgrade sent a negative response to a request for the visit.

The Serbian government said on its website on Saturday that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is currently visiting the United States, warned the leaders of the Bosniak National Council (BNV) to respect the laws of their state, and above all the Law on National Minority Councils which prohibits members of councils from engaging in politics.

"National councils represent all members of a national minority, not individual political parties, or interests in whose name they cannot act," Brnabic said, and added:

"To invite school masters in Novi Pazar, as someone has done on behalf of the Bosniak National Council, to an event called 'the ceremonial session of the Bosniak National Council' - held on the occasion of the arrival of a person who calls himself 'minister of foreign affairs" of our Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija - represents a clear and flagrant violation of the laws of the Republic of Serbia and an abuse of office and mandate of national councils of national minorities."

"Both as the prime minister and as the chairwoman of the National Council for National Minorities, I warn the leaders of the Bosniak National Council not to abuse the council," Brnabic said. "Such initiatives are in direct contradiction with the purpose of the existence and functioning of the council. I invite the BNV leaders to get serious, to act responsibly, first and foremost towards the citizens they represent, not to be collecting cheap political points at the expense of stability and not to abuse the tolerance and understanding of the government of Serbia," she said.

"Serbia is an example of respecting the rights and freedoms of national minorities, and the obligation of the government is to protect representatives of national minorities from irresponsible individuals in national councils, in order to continue to strengthen our society as an inclusive one made up of equals," the prime minister concluded.