Minister: Solution for northern Kosovo crisis close

Serbia’s Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic says that KFOR has no interest to solve political issues by force. He pointed out that it was not in Serbs’ interest to have conflicts with KFOR. Minister: Solution for northern Kosovo crisis close Bogdanovic added that an agreement on a peaceful solution to the northern Kosovo crisis was within reach. “It is not in KFOR’s interest to solve some political issues by force, just like conflicts with KFOR are not in Serbs’ interest. We are very close to reaching an agreement to peacefully solve the crisis,” the minister told daily Politika. “We are constantly in contact with KFOR and we demand from both KFOR and Serbs to solve the problems in a peaceful manner. I am sure that Serbs will not be the first to try to provoke in any way the use of force against them. But at the same time they cannot allow some political problems to be solved by force,” he was quoted as saying. When asked whether KFOR was seriously planning on removing the barricades by force if Serbs did not remove them, Bogdanovic said that it was very dangerous to remove the barricades by force because solutions could be found through talks. “They stated before that they did not agree with the way Serbs were protesting. However, it is very dangerous to remove the barricades by force. Possibilities to ensure freedom of movement for KFOR can be found through talks, which was pointed out by the Serb municipal representatives several time,” he explained. The minister for Kosovo stressed that the Serbs were ready to remove some barricades in order to allow some kind of freedom of movement to KFOR but that they were not ready to remove the main barricades. He believes that removal of the barricades by force would be bad because it could lead to events similar to those that took place on September 27 at the Jarinje checkpoint and that it is not in anybody’s interest to solve things this way. Bogdanovic stressed that northern Kosovo Serb municipal representatives requested to meet with KFOR Commander Erhard Drews as soon as possible in order to solve the situation and reach an agreement. “We do not have army, police or weapons to defend ourselves from force and violent methods not only of KFOR but anyone. Barehanded people cannot stand up with force. The only thing left for us to do is to peacefully protest and express our dissatisfaction,” he pointed out. The minister believes that “tensions would rise and that the crisis would deepen” if KFOR removed the barricades by force and that it is in nobody’s best interest. Goran Bogdanovic KFOR “reserves right to use force” “KFOR has no operative plan to remove the barricades in northern Kosovo by force, but that does not mean that it will not use force because it has the right to do so,” KFOR Spokesman Ralph Adamec noted. “If KFOR assesses that there is no safe and peaceful environment and that there is no freedom of movement, we reserve the right to remove the barricades by force. We will not use force for now,” he pointed out.

Minister: Solution for northern Kosovo crisis close

Bogdanović added that an agreement on a peaceful solution to the northern Kosovo crisis was within reach.

“It is not in KFOR’s interest to solve some political issues by force, just like conflicts with KFOR are not in Serbs’ interest. We are very close to reaching an agreement to peacefully solve the crisis,” the minister told daily Politika.

“We are constantly in contact with KFOR and we demand from both KFOR and Serbs to solve the problems in a peaceful manner. I am sure that Serbs will not be the first to try to provoke in any way the use of force against them. But at the same time they cannot allow some political problems to be solved by force,” he was quoted as saying.

When asked whether KFOR was seriously planning on removing the barricades by force if Serbs did not remove them, Bogdanović said that it was very dangerous to remove the barricades by force because solutions could be found through talks.

“They stated before that they did not agree with the way Serbs were protesting. However, it is very dangerous to remove the barricades by force. Possibilities to ensure freedom of movement for KFOR can be found through talks, which was pointed out by the Serb municipal representatives several time,” he explained.

The minister for Kosovo stressed that the Serbs were ready to remove some barricades in order to allow some kind of freedom of movement to KFOR but that they were not ready to remove the main barricades.

He believes that removal of the barricades by force would be bad because it could lead to events similar to those that took place on September 27 at the Jarinje checkpoint and that it is not in anybody’s interest to solve things this way.

Bogdanović stressed that northern Kosovo Serb municipal representatives requested to meet with KFOR Commander Erhard Drews as soon as possible in order to solve the situation and reach an agreement.

“We do not have army, police or weapons to defend ourselves from force and violent methods not only of KFOR but anyone. Barehanded people cannot stand up with force. The only thing left for us to do is to peacefully protest and express our dissatisfaction,” he pointed out.

The minister believes that “tensions would rise and that the crisis would deepen” if KFOR removed the barricades by force and that it is in nobody’s best interest.

KFOR “reserves right to use force”

“KFOR has no operative plan to remove the barricades in northern Kosovo by force, but that does not mean that it will not use force because it has the right to do so,” KFOR Spokesman Ralph Adamec noted.

“If KFOR assesses that there is no safe and peaceful environment and that there is no freedom of movement, we reserve the right to remove the barricades by force. We will not use force for now,” he pointed out.