Committee on Kosovo criticizes team chief, minister

Parliament Committee on Kosovo members have strongly criticized the work of the Belgrade negotiating team and agreements reached during the talks in Brussels. The meeting ended after more than six hours of a heated debate. Committee on Kosovo Chairman Ljubomir Kragovic ended the session without voting on draft conclusions since there was no quorum. Committee on Kosovo criticizes team chief, minister Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanovic and Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic also attended the meeting. According to the draft conclusions, the Committee should request from the Constitutional Court to assess constitutionality of the regulation on freedom of movement at the administrative crossings. Opposition MPs accused the authorities and Stefanovic of not acting in accordance with the Serbs’ interests in Kosovo. Northern Kosovo Serb leaders said at a meeting of the parliament Committee on Kosovo on Tuesday they supported a referendum so Serbs could vote on integration into Kosovo institutions. “The assembly of the municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica has started the procedure to determine if the decision is in accordance with the constitution,” Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantic stated. He told the committee the said government ordinance was harmful because it prevented northern Kosovo Serbs from going to central Serbia. Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic pointed out that northern Kosovo Serbs had the right to vote in a referendum on whether they wished to become part of Kosovo's institutions. “If Serbia denies that right, it means the government is acting in the interest of the independent state of Kosovo," Ristic noted. "I know that many, even the media, will satanize this act of ours, but the Serbs in northern Kosovo have the right to decide if they wish to be integrated into the illegal state of Kosovo," he remarked. According to Ristic, on February 17, 2008, the Kosovo Albanians also decided they wanted an independent country, and no Serb was asked if they wanted Kosovo independent. “The agreements reached in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina are harmful, and in time it will be determined how anti-constitutional they are," Ristic noted, adding that everyone who thought Serbia's EU integration depended on the northern Kosovo Serbs was hugely mistaken. Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljkovic said the Serbs in northern Kosovo could not clear roadblocks because of a realistic fear that the Albanian side was not going to implement the agreements reached in the talks between Belgrade and Pristina. “The reason for not removing the barricades is the fear that the Kosovo authorities will act unilaterally with support from the international community to change the reality out in the field, like they did when they brought their customs officers to administrative crossings,” he stated. “There are no guarantees that two crossings in northern Kosovo, Jarinje and Brnjak, will be treated separately when it comes to the implementation of the agreement on integrated border management,” he underscored. "Who can guarantee that EULEX is going to accept the executive role. I do not believe it. I think Kosovo customs and police officers will take over customs operations," said Nedeljkovic. He believes those responsible for abuses regarding Serbian government funds sent to Kosovo are sitting in Belgrade and he called on the government to investigate all suspicious transactions involving budget funds in northern Kosovo. Nedeljkovic stressed he was particularly angered by the fact northern Kosovo was mentioned in a criminal context. Borislav Stefanovic and Goran Bogdanovic are seen at the meeting (Beta) Beta Tanjug

Committee on Kosovo criticizes team chief, minister

Belgrade team chief Borislav Stefanović and Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović also attended the meeting.

According to the draft conclusions, the Committee should request from the Constitutional Court to assess constitutionality of the regulation on freedom of movement at the administrative crossings.

Opposition MPs accused the authorities and Stefanović of not acting in accordance with the Serbs’ interests in Kosovo.

Northern Kosovo Serb leaders said at a meeting of the parliament Committee on Kosovo on Tuesday they supported a referendum so Serbs could vote on integration into Kosovo institutions.

“The assembly of the municipality of Kosovska Mitrovica has started the procedure to determine if the decision is in accordance with the constitution,” Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantić stated.

He told the committee the said government ordinance was harmful because it prevented northern Kosovo Serbs from going to central Serbia.

Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić pointed out that northern Kosovo Serbs had the right to vote in a referendum on whether they wished to become part of Kosovo's institutions.

“If Serbia denies that right, it means the government is acting in the interest of the independent state of Kosovo," Ristić noted.

"I know that many, even the media, will satanize this act of ours, but the Serbs in northern Kosovo have the right to decide if they wish to be integrated into the illegal state of Kosovo," he remarked.

According to Ristić, on February 17, 2008, the Kosovo Albanians also decided they wanted an independent country, and no Serb was asked if they wanted Kosovo independent.

“The agreements reached in the talks between Belgrade and Priština are harmful, and in time it will be determined how anti-constitutional they are," Ristić noted, adding that everyone who thought Serbia's EU integration depended on the northern Kosovo Serbs was hugely mistaken.

Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljković said the Serbs in northern Kosovo could not clear roadblocks because of a realistic fear that the Albanian side was not going to implement the agreements reached in the talks between Belgrade and Priština.

“The reason for not removing the barricades is the fear that the Kosovo authorities will act unilaterally with support from the international community to change the reality out in the field, like they did when they brought their customs officers to administrative crossings,” he stated.

“There are no guarantees that two crossings in northern Kosovo, Jarinje and Brnjak, will be treated separately when it comes to the implementation of the agreement on integrated border management,” he underscored.

"Who can guarantee that EULEX is going to accept the executive role. I do not believe it. I think Kosovo customs and police officers will take over customs operations," said Nedeljković.

He believes those responsible for abuses regarding Serbian government funds sent to Kosovo are sitting in Belgrade and he called on the government to investigate all suspicious transactions involving budget funds in northern Kosovo.

Nedeljković stressed he was particularly angered by the fact northern Kosovo was mentioned in a criminal context.