Shooting near one of north Kosovo checkpoints

Conflicting news and confusion out of northern Kosovo this Tuesday - latest reports suggest that a KPS unit did not return to the Brnjak crossing. Tanjug reported after 17:00 CET that a firefight occurred in the village of Varage, near the northern Kosovo town of Zubin Potok, in which one KPS member was injured. According to this, there were no casualties among Serbs. Shooting near one of north Kosovo checkpoints The news agency's journalist at the scene quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the incident happened when two KPS vehicles entered the village and opened fire at four cars owned by local Serbs, which were parked on the road. The circumstances of the shooting are not known. After the incident, the police drove off towards southern, ethnic Albanian part of Kosovska Mitrovica and the village of Kosutovo, which is mostly populated by ethnic Albanians. There was blood at the site of the incident, and the Serbs' cars were ridden with bullet holes, said the news agency. The villagers have refused to give any statements to reporters. Previously, there was confusion and speculation about the shooting incident. Initial reports suggested that the Kosovo police (KPS) unit sent to take over two administrative line crossings in the north did not, after withdrawing this morning, return to the one it managed to occupy last night. According to Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic, quoted by Beta news agency, the KPS did not manage to return to Brnjak, because Serbs blocking a road near the checkpoint confronted them when they attempted to go back. In Pristina, Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was quoted as saying that there will be "no compromise with Serbia", and that "special forces will remain at the crossings". A short while after 14:00 CET, reports were saying that members of the unit, called "Rosu", fired from their weapons in order to break through to a passage past the locals who tried to block the road. Borislav Stefanovic said at the Jarinje administrative crossing that he received information "Kosovo special forces fired at the Serbs who are protesting at Brnjak", and that KFOR "sent a unit to the checkpoint to prevent violence from escalating". "Shots were fired, we have been told the Kosovo police unit fired at our people. It is very important to stay calm right now and have the right information," Stefanovic told reporters and Serbs who gathered there. It remains unclear if anyone was killed or wounded. The KPS is yet to make a statement about the incident. According to a Beta news agency report, KFOR's commander Erhard Buehler - who is currently at the other checkpoint in the north, near Jarinje - has ordered a Portuguese KFOR unit to move to Brnjak. Representatives of the Serbian government are also at Jarinje. Earlier today, reports said that KPS withdrew its members from the barricades near the town of Leposavic, and later in the day from the Brnjak checkpoint. According to Tanjug news agency this came as a result of an agreement reached by representatives of Belgrade, Pristina and KFOR. Reports said that Serbs removed the barricades they put up near the administrative line, and that traffic was back to normal. Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic previously denied reports from Pristina that the administrative checkpoint of Jarinje between Kosovo and central Serbia was taken over by the KPS. This claim was made during the morning by several ministers of the Hashim Thaci cabinet in Pristina, including Bajram Redzepi and Hajredin Kuci. Members of the KPS unit reached the Brnjak checkpoint late on Monday, but spent the night on the Leposavic-Kosovska Mitrovica road, as local Serbs reacted by putting up barricades to protect the Jarinje crossing. Bogdanovic, who is at the scene in the north, said he expected the Kosovo Albanian authorities to react to an offer sent by Belgrade - to remove KPS members from all locations they took over last night, while local Serbs would unblock roads. Bogdanovic and head of Belgrade's Kosovo dialogue team Borislav Stefanovic spent the night near the barricades, holding open air meetings with KFOR commander Erhard Buehler, who engaged in "shuttle diplomacy", leaving for Pristina and returning to the north several times. The minister expects that another meeting with Buehler will be held in the afternoon. Earlier this morning, Borislav Stefanovic said that he believed that "a solution to the crisis in northern Kosovo was close at hand". Stefanovic added that there would be an agreement for the KPS to withdraw from the checkpoints during the morning. "Most elements for the solving of the issue created by the blockage of the section of Leposavic-Kosovska Mitrovica road near the Jarinje village, has been agreed with KFOR Commander Erhard Buehler," Stefanovic was quoted as saying. He told Tanjug that "several things still remain to be resolved". "We will not leave until the situation is resolved, and the previous condition restored at the Jarinje administrative crossing," Stefanovic said. Bogdanovic said he believed in a positive outcome, as well as in Buhler's neutrality. Both officials called on Serbs to "remain calm", and on the international community to "contribute to the calming of tensions and prevent violence in the north". Late on Monday Kosovo Albanian authorities in Pristina sent armed KPS units in armored vehicles to take over two checkpoints in the Serb-dominated north. Some 1,000 Serbs gathered near the town of Leposavic said the members of the KPS units - dubbed Rosa - threatened them by pointed weapons at them. Several persons were arrested in Leposavic, while one Serb man was injured. Pristina's move to take over the checkpoints came in order to ensure its ban on goods coming from Serbia, it was announced. The north of the province is mostly inhabited by Serbs who do not accept the authority of the government in Pristina. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence - a move that was rejected by Serbia. L-R: Stefanovic, Buehler, Bogdanovic in northern Kosovo today (Beta) "No more surprises" As the tension that was running high last night and this morning defused in the north, local Serb leaders pledged not to be "caught by surprise again". Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic said local Serbs will now organize watch duty in order to prevent the crisis from repeating itself. Ristic also said that people of the area known as Ibarski Kolasin do not wish to see a border put in place toward Serbia. "We consider Serbia our country and we will use all legitimate means to fight for our rights," the mayor concluded. EULEX and KFOR Despite the fact that Hashim Thaci's deputy Hajredin Kuci said the attempt to take over the checkpoints was coordinated with KFOR and EULEX, the EU mission denied this. EULEX Chief Spokesperson Nicholas Hawton was this morning quoted as saying that "EULEX was not involved in any way in the operation carried out by special units of Kosovo police." In a written statement distributed to the media, Hawton further said that "EULEX and the EU in Brussels have made it clear that the issue of customs stamps should be solved through the current dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade. Unilateral actions by one side or the other are not helpful." The statement also urged that the current situation be resolved "in a calm and peaceful manner. EULEX is co-ordinating closely with KFOR to do this and to maintain security." A statement from KFOR said that Gerhard Buehler "appeals to all the citizens of Kosovo not to react violently to the present situation in the north or at the crossing points at the administrative boundary line to Serbia". “KFOR does not accept any violence. In a democratic society different opinions or conflicting positions have to be solved peacefully by discussions and negotiations.” The statement also read that KFOR had been "informed about the situation tonight and has alarmed a considerable amount of units to intervene if necessary". "KFOR monitors the situation and KFOR troops are in the north of Kosovo and will help to contribute to deescalate tensions if this is necessary," said the statement.

Shooting near one of north Kosovo checkpoints

The news agency's journalist at the scene quoted eyewitnesses as saying that the incident happened when two KPS vehicles entered the village and opened fire at four cars owned by local Serbs, which were parked on the road.

The circumstances of the shooting are not known.

After the incident, the police drove off towards southern, ethnic Albanian part of Kosovska Mitrovica and the village of Košutovo, which is mostly populated by ethnic Albanians.

There was blood at the site of the incident, and the Serbs' cars were ridden with bullet holes, said the news agency.

The villagers have refused to give any statements to reporters.

Previously, there was confusion and speculation about the shooting incident.

Initial reports suggested that the Kosovo police (KPS) unit sent to take over two administrative line crossings in the north did not, after withdrawing this morning, return to the one it managed to occupy last night.

According to Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović, quoted by Beta news agency, the KPS did not manage to return to Brnjak, because Serbs blocking a road near the checkpoint confronted them when they attempted to go back.

In Priština, Kosovo Albanian Prime Minister Hashim Thaci was quoted as saying that there will be "no compromise with Serbia", and that "special forces will remain at the crossings".

A short while after 14:00 CET, reports were saying that members of the unit, called "Rosu", fired from their weapons in order to break through to a passage past the locals who tried to block the road.

Borislav Stefanović said at the Jarinje administrative crossing that he received information "Kosovo special forces fired at the Serbs who are protesting at Brnjak", and that KFOR "sent a unit to the checkpoint to prevent violence from escalating".

"Shots were fired, we have been told the Kosovo police unit fired at our people. It is very important to stay calm right now and have the right information," Stefanović told reporters and Serbs who gathered there.

It remains unclear if anyone was killed or wounded. The KPS is yet to make a statement about the incident.

According to a Beta news agency report, KFOR's commander Erhard Buehler - who is currently at the other checkpoint in the north, near Jarinje - has ordered a Portuguese KFOR unit to move to Brnjak.

Representatives of the Serbian government are also at Jarinje.

Earlier today, reports said that KPS withdrew its members from the barricades near the town of Leposavić, and later in the day from the Brnjak checkpoint.

According to Tanjug news agency this came as a result of an agreement reached by representatives of Belgrade, Priština and KFOR.

Reports said that Serbs removed the barricades they put up near the administrative line, and that traffic was back to normal.

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović previously denied reports from Priština that the administrative checkpoint of Jarinje between Kosovo and central Serbia was taken over by the KPS.

This claim was made during the morning by several ministers of the Hashim Thaci cabinet in Priština, including Bajram Redzepi and Hajredin Kuci.

Members of the KPS unit reached the Brnjak checkpoint late on Monday, but spent the night on the Leposavić-Kosovska Mitrovica road, as local Serbs reacted by putting up barricades to protect the Jarinje crossing.

Bogdanović, who is at the scene in the north, said he expected the Kosovo Albanian authorities to react to an offer sent by Belgrade - to remove KPS members from all locations they took over last night, while local Serbs would unblock roads.

Bogdanović and head of Belgrade's Kosovo dialogue team Borislav Stefanović spent the night near the barricades, holding open air meetings with KFOR commander Erhard Buehler, who engaged in "shuttle diplomacy", leaving for Priština and returning to the north several times.

The minister expects that another meeting with Buehler will be held in the afternoon.

Earlier this morning, Borislav Stefanović said that he believed that "a solution to the crisis in northern Kosovo was close at hand".

Stefanović added that there would be an agreement for the KPS to withdraw from the checkpoints during the morning.

"Most elements for the solving of the issue created by the blockage of the section of Leposavić-Kosovska Mitrovica road near the Jarinje village, has been agreed with KFOR Commander Erhard Buehler," Stefanović was quoted as saying.

He told Tanjug that "several things still remain to be resolved".

"We will not leave until the situation is resolved, and the previous condition restored at the Jarinje administrative crossing," Stefanović said.

Bogdanović said he believed in a positive outcome, as well as in Buhler's neutrality.

Both officials called on Serbs to "remain calm", and on the international community to "contribute to the calming of tensions and prevent violence in the north".

Late on Monday Kosovo Albanian authorities in Priština sent armed KPS units in armored vehicles to take over two checkpoints in the Serb-dominated north.

Some 1,000 Serbs gathered near the town of Leposavić said the members of the KPS units - dubbed Rosa - threatened them by pointed weapons at them.

Several persons were arrested in Leposavić, while one Serb man was injured.

Priština's move to take over the checkpoints came in order to ensure its ban on goods coming from Serbia, it was announced.

The north of the province is mostly inhabited by Serbs who do not accept the authority of the government in Priština.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians in early 2008 unilaterally declared independence - a move that was rejected by Serbia.

"No more surprises"

As the tension that was running high last night and this morning defused in the north, local Serb leaders pledged not to be "caught by surprise again".

Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić said local Serbs will now organize watch duty in order to prevent the crisis from repeating itself.

Ristić also said that people of the area known as Ibarski Kolašin do not wish to see a border put in place toward Serbia.

"We consider Serbia our country and we will use all legitimate means to fight for our rights," the mayor concluded.

EULEX and KFOR

Despite the fact that Hashim Thaci's deputy Hajredin Kuci said the attempt to take over the checkpoints was coordinated with KFOR and EULEX, the EU mission denied this.

EULEX Chief Spokesperson Nicholas Hawton was this morning quoted as saying that "EULEX was not involved in any way in the operation carried out by special units of Kosovo police."

In a written statement distributed to the media, Hawton further said that "EULEX and the EU in Brussels have made it clear that the issue of customs stamps should be solved through the current dialogue between Priština and Belgrade. Unilateral actions by one side or the other are not helpful."

The statement also urged that the current situation be resolved "in a calm and peaceful manner. EULEX is co-ordinating closely with KFOR to do this and to maintain security."

A statement from KFOR said that Gerhard Buehler "appeals to all the citizens of Kosovo not to react violently to the present situation in the north or at the crossing points at the administrative boundary line to Serbia".

“KFOR does not accept any violence. In a democratic society different opinions or conflicting positions have to be solved peacefully by discussions and negotiations.”

The statement also read that KFOR had been "informed about the situation tonight and has alarmed a considerable amount of units to intervene if necessary".

"KFOR monitors the situation and KFOR troops are in the north of Kosovo and will help to contribute
to deescalate tensions if this is necessary," said the statement.