“Serbia does not violate Brussels agreement but honors it, therefore Kosovo Karate Federation leadership and sportsmen were banned to enter Serbia in order to participate at European Championship, held from 10 to 13 May in Novi Sad,” Serbian PM Ana Brnabic told Serbian media.

She added “violation” of the Brussels agreement would happen if Serbia allowed entry to the sportsmen from Kosovo who did not notify Serbia on their intent to visit it, 48 hours in advance, “which is the simplest thing (to do),” but used it instead for a new political provocation.

“We could have reacted on May 1, when an announcement from Pristina came that karate team members would come to Novi Sad with all insignia of a state. I told head of KiM Office, Marko Djuric and Minister of Sports, Vanja Udovicic not to react, we would remain quiet and try to discreetly resolve it with the European Karate Federation,” Brnabic said.

“This is how we reached an agreement that Kosovo could participate in this championship under the European Karate Federation flag and the abbreviation “FK,” she added. “Representatives of Kosovo Karate Federation were only supposed to meet the President of European Karate Federation, receive that instruction and notify us 48 hours in advance they wish to cross the administrative crossing point and everything would be fantastic.”

However, Pristina representatives, as Brnabic further explained, did neither, instead they are using the ban for a new political provocation that is not in the interest of a regional stability, Blic daily reported.