Political representatives of Albanians from southern central Serbia have demanded that the Kosovo authorities involve them in the dialogue with Belgrade in Brussels. They seek the same rights as Kosovo Serbs, reported media in Pristina.

President of the National Council of Albanians from the Presevo Valley, Jonuz Musliu together with the heads of the municipalities of Presevo and Bujanovac in Pristina yesterday demanded a mutual solution to the issue of the status of Albanians in the Presevo Valley.

Musliu asked why it is that Kosovo Serbs are taught with Serbian textbooks whereas Albanians from the Presevo Valley are not taught with Albanian text books. He added that now was the time to solve the issue.

During their stay in Pristina, Albanian representatives of the municipality located in the south of central Serbia, had meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Culture Kujtim Shala, with whom they signed a memorandum on cooperation in the field of culture.

On this occasion, Musliu stated that they request more support to the Albanian population in southern Serbia, from both the Tirana and Pristina governments.

Following Pristina, the Albanian delegation from southern Serbia will travel to Strasbourg, where they will be meeting representatives of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on January 27. The agenda will include the issues of the exercise of their rights, and economic and social status.