Official: Claim Belgrade wanted Ivanovic jailed "monstrous"

Official: Claim Belgrade wanted Ivanovic jailed "monstrous"

Writing for the TransConflict website, Gallucci described Ivanovic as being "a political prisoner being held as a result of an unholy - and rather short-sighted - alliance between the internationals, Belgrade and the current Kosovo Albanian leadership."

In his reaction, Kozarev said that such allegations are aimed at creating "a rift between Serbs in Kosovo and their state, Serbia."

"This idea is so monstrous and absurd that does it not deserve a comment. I fear that the main intention of the author is not to express his concern for the fate of Ivanovic, but to create a rift between the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and the only ones who genuinely care about their fate," Kozarev told Tanjug on Wednesday.

This official of the Serbian Government's Office for Kosovo and Metohija added that "anyone who is willing to in any way join the initiative to free Ivanovic from political persecution and contribute to exposing the vile intentions of those who condemned an innocent man is welcome - but Gallucci presented an untruth about Belgrade's involvement in Ivanovic's imprisonment in his article published on the Transconflict website."

"In his text, Mr. Gallucci had a few shrewd observations that validly describe the situation in Kosovo and Metohija. However, the author is not so lucid, and perhaps he is quite consciously presenting an untruth, when he speculates about the alleged involvement of Belgrade in Ivanovic's imprisonment," said Kozarev.

The Serbian government and its representatives, he added, are "trying to help Ivanovic and his family in every way - that is obvious to any citizen."

Kozarev then observed it was "indicative that a growing number of troublemakers, former diplomats and analysts have the need to speak at a time when Serbia is economically and politically stronger, and they all have one thing in common - an interest in our country being weaker and less significant, and our people disunited."

"In the past, we have seen too many such campaigns and their outcome never went to the benefit of our people and state. Our people have learned their lesson and will certainly not fall for this and similar attempts of breaking up the unity of Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija and their state, Serbia," said Kozarev.

In his article, Gallucci said that EULEX judges in Kosovska Mitrovica on January 21 "declared Oliver Ivanovic guilty of 'war crime against the civilian population' while acquitting him of murder, inciting murder or attempted murder." He noted that his experience of Ivanovic "leads him to find it very difficult to imagine him ordering the killing of anyone or taking part in such acts in any way," describing the politician as "capable, courageous, and pragmatic."

However, writes Gallucci, "the Serbian government wants more than anything to move forward on EU membership and sees Kosovo Serbs as both ultimately dispensable and meanwhile a stick to use to beat Pristina," and adds:

"It was Belgrade that reportedly suggested to the international prosecutors that they take Ivanovic when they were looking around for a Kosovo Serbian head to take."