Minister: Barricades in north won't be removed

Source: Tanjug

ZVEČAN -- Goran Bogdanović says barricades on the roads in north Kosovo will stay where they are until the problem of the Jarinje and Brnjak checkpoints has been solved.

Serbian Orthodox priests join people at the barricades (Tanjug)

After a meeting with representatives of local Serbs in Zvečan, northern Kosovo, the minister for Kosovo urged peace and confirmed that he is scheduled to meet with EU mediator Robert Cooper in Raška, a town in the southern area of central Serbia.

“The problem of administrative crossings in northern Kosovo must be resolved through dialogue, and under no circumstances it should involve force. I call on all to restrain from unilateral moves and give a chance to dialogue,” Bogdanović said.

Bogdanović and Head of Belgrade's negotiating team in the talks with Priština Borislav Stefanović arrived at the barricades in Rudare, municipality of Zvečan, but heavy rain prevented them from addressing journalists.

The meeting between Bogdanović and Stefanović and Serb representatives in northern Kosovo in Zvečan began at 11:00 CET and ended three hours later.

The talks were led behind closed doors, and the meeting was also attended by head of Kosovska Mitrovica District chief Radenko Nedeljković and mayors of northern Kosovo municipalities.

After the meeting, government representatives were scheduled to issue a statement for reporters at the barricades in Rudare.