Pantic: Oath-taking would violate Constitution of Serbia

In an interview for the Monday's edition of Belgrade-based daily, Pantic explained that he renounced the office of the mayor of northern Kosovska Mitrovica because he did not want to sign a document with the coat-of-arms of Kosovo and the symbols stating that Kosovo is a republic, stressing that this would constitute a violation of the Constitution of Serbia. He disagreed with several Serb council members and mayors who claimed that the statements they signed at official ceremonies in northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic late on Saturday were status-neutral. "There is no status-neutrality in the signed statements. It is sad to see what our council members and mayors were forced to accept. We are not only being robbed of a part of our territory, but our dignity and intelligence are offended as well,” said Pantic. Explaining why he claims that the elections in Kiosovo were a deception by the international community, Pantic pointed to the election materials. "They promised and guaranteed status-neutral elections, they gave us status-neutral materials, but as soon as we handed them in to OSCE, the symbols indicating Kosovo's statehood were placed on them," Pantic explained. Due to the latest events, he noted, the Brussels agreement will collapse very soon. "It will not be the responsibility of the Serbian Government, but of the international community," said Pantic.