N. Kosovo Serbs discuss KFOR's request

Source: B92, Tanjug

ZUBIN POTOK -- Councilors of four northern Kosovo municipalities are holding a meeting in Zubin Potok to discuss KFOR's request to ensure freedom of movement.

KFOR has warned it is determined to take action if Serbs did not make a decision on removal of the barricades on Wednesday.

The meeting between representatives of four northern Kosovo municipalities started a little after 11:00 CET in Zubin Potok.

Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljković and Republic of Srpska (RS) Vice President Emil Vlajki are also attending the meeting.

Nedeljković said on Wednesday that the northern Kosovo Serb representatives should make a rational decision and that the Serbian government had advised them not to get into conflicts with the international forces.

“I think that this is a historic moment for survival of Serbs in these parts. We have to be very wise, determined and brave at the session today and make a rational decision,” he pointed out ahead of the meeting.

He did not want to comment on the outcome of the meeting.

Repeating that relations with the international forces in Kosovo, especially KFOR, will be discussed at the meeting, he stressed that the northern Kosovo Serbs were in constant contact with top Serbian officials through Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović.

He pointed out that the government, top officials and the president supported their peaceful and determined fight for their interests.

“At the same time, we got recommendations from the top state officials not to react to provocations and that we must not confront and get into conflicts with KFOR and other international institutions,” Nedeljković pointed out.

Leposavić Mayor Branko Ninić told B92 that the northern Kosovo Serb representatives would most likely agree to remove the barricades so KFOR could go through.

According to him, KFOR should understand the position of the citizens at the barricades and it should not attempt to remove the barricades by force.

Serbian government's Media Office Chief Milivoje Mihajlović expressed expectation that the Wednesday meeting of representatives of four north Kosovo municipalities would result in a decision that would contribute to stabilization of situation and resolution of crisis in this part of the province.

“This is a good chance for better communication between citizens and KFOR, which is the only one to guarantee security to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Mihajlović said.

He said that further complication of the situation as well as spending time near barricades are not in the interest of Serbs, but that they would persevere in order to prevent deployment of bodies of the so-called independent state of Kosovo north of the Ibar River.

“Serbs have only one condition and that is status neutrality of KFOR, which should operate within its mandate as a UN peacekeeping mission,” he underlined.

“Serbs in Kosovo would like to see tensions in north Kosovo ease, as the crisis is solely favored by Priština,” Mihajlović said and expressed hope that Serbs in north Kosovo would not make moves which would be harmful for their survival.

At the late Tuesday meeting between Zvečan, Leposavić, Kosovska Mitrovica and Zubin Potok mayors and municipal assembly speakers, the officials reached an agreement on conclusions which would be delivered to councilors for adoption on Wednesday.

“The representatives of the local self-government and KFOR should today reach an agreement based on three key elements,” Serbian Ministry for Kosovo State Secretary Oliver Ivanović announced on Tuesday.

“An agreement should be reached to guarantee that KFOR will not transport Kosovo customs officers, allow armed units to come to north Kosovo, or assist EULEX to deploy the representatives of Kosovo institutions,” he explained.

As he put it, the agreement will have several phases and it will start with good will to let through KFOR vehicles provided they do not carry customs officers and heavy machinery, as well as groups of armed people that Serbs see as enemies.

“This implies a partial passing of KFOR vehicles,” the state secretary added.