No results as Serbs meet with KFOR, EULEX

A meeting between four presidents of northern Kosovo municipalities and representatives of international missions in Kosovo ended without results. Head of the Zvecan municipality Dragisa Milovic said each side presented its view, but no agreement was reached. No results as Serbs meet with KFOR, EULEX According to Milovic, they did agree to continue their negotiations, however, and the four local officials asked KFOR Commander Erhard Drews to guarantee there would be no attempt to remove roadblocks by force, but he could not guarantee that. Still, the four presidents hope reason will prevail. Milovic noted that they told Drews and EULEX Chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac that the international forces could be given freedom of movement if EULEX stopped transporting Kosovo police and customs officials to administrative crossings. The KFOR and EULEX officials, on the other hand, demanded unconditional freedom of movement, he added. "This is a problem that cannot be solved by the four presidents, but has to be dealt with at a higher level," he stated, adding that they would go to Serbian President Boris Tadic. KFOR troops attempted to remove barricades and unblock roads in the villages of Zupce and Jagnjenica that lead to the Brnjak crossing at 02:00 CET on Saturday. Unlike on early Thursday, there were no incidents or any physical confrontation between KFOR troops and Serbs on Friday and today. KFOR warned the local Serbs to leave and stressed that its troops would otherwise use force. The gathered Serbs told reporters they were ready to stay at the barricades until they reached an agreement with the international forces. Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic stated early on Saturday that it would be possible for the international forces to have freedom of movement if KFOR and EULEX confirmed their status neutrality in the field. “This can be easily solved if KFOR and EULEX say that they will not transport Kosovo police and customs officers and if they take back those people from the crossings, then a space for free movement of everybody and for normal talks will be opened,” Ristic pointed out. KFOR troops got out of their vehicles and formed a cordon early on Saturday in Jagnjenica and Zupce. According to a Tanjug reporter, they had full riot gear, armored vehicles and mechanization for the removal of barricades. They, however, withdrew to their convoys after a while. Moroccan KFOR troops also withdrew from the village of Dudin Krs to their base. A large number of Serbs are gathered at the barricades. Northern Kosovo Serbs and KFOR troops are seen in the village of Dudin Krs (Tanjug)

No results as Serbs meet with KFOR, EULEX

According to Milović, they did agree to continue their negotiations, however, and the four local officials asked KFOR Commander Erhard Drews to guarantee there would be no attempt to remove roadblocks by force, but he could not guarantee that.

Still, the four presidents hope reason will prevail. Milović noted that they told Drews and EULEX Chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac that the international forces could be given freedom of movement if EULEX stopped transporting Kosovo police and customs officials to administrative crossings.

The KFOR and EULEX officials, on the other hand, demanded unconditional freedom of movement, he added.

"This is a problem that cannot be solved by the four presidents, but has to be dealt with at a higher level," he stated, adding that they would go to Serbian President Boris Tadić.

KFOR troops attempted to remove barricades and unblock roads in the villages of Zupče and Jagnjenica that lead to the Brnjak crossing at 02:00 CET on Saturday.

Unlike on early Thursday, there were no incidents or any physical confrontation between KFOR troops and Serbs on Friday and today.

KFOR warned the local Serbs to leave and stressed that its troops would otherwise use force. The gathered Serbs told reporters they were ready to stay at the barricades until they reached an agreement with the international forces.

Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić stated early on Saturday that it would be possible for the international forces to have freedom of movement if KFOR and EULEX confirmed their status neutrality in the field.

“This can be easily solved if KFOR and EULEX say that they will not transport Kosovo police and customs officers and if they take back those people from the crossings, then a space for free movement of everybody and for normal talks will be opened,” Ristić pointed out.

KFOR troops got out of their vehicles and formed a cordon early on Saturday in Jagnjenica and Zupče. According to a Tanjug reporter, they had full riot gear, armored vehicles and mechanization for the removal of barricades. They, however, withdrew to their convoys after a while. Moroccan KFOR troops also withdrew from the village of Dudin Krš to their base.

A large number of Serbs are gathered at the barricades.