"Checkpoint action in line with gov't policy"

Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardžić said late Tuesday the <a href="http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2008&mm=02&dd=19&nav_id=47821" class="text-link" target= "_blank">actions by Kosovo Serbs</a> were not initiated by Belgrade.

Izvor: B92

Wednesday, 20.02.2008.

10:08

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Kosovo Minister Slobodan Samardzic said late Tuesday the actions by Kosovo Serbs were not initiated by Belgrade. But he added that the burning of the two checkpoints on the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative line crossings, in protest of Pristina's attempts to impose its authority in the north, was "in accordance with the Serbian government's decision on taking over customs policy." "Checkpoint action in line with gov't policy" Samardzic, DSS, told B92 that the destruction of police checkpoints was a direct reaction by the population north of the Ibar River, which does not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo. "I believe that it is legitimate. It may not be nice, but it is legitimate," he said of the Feb. 19 actions of Serbs who vandalized UNMIK's customs checkpoints and torched several of the mission's vehicles. According to him, Serbia has to date had jurisdiction in the areas of education, social policy, culture and health care, but plans to expand that jurisdiction and, among other things, take over customs policy in northern Kosovo. "We did not arrange this way of taking over the customs checkpoints," he said, adding that around 15,000 people had gathered spontaneously and that it was important that no-one had been hurt. Samardzic pointed out another benefit of the actions at the checkpoints was the fact that UNMIK intended to transfer some of its customs jurisdiction to the EU mission and that Serbia could not allow the EU mission to take over the customs checkpoints. Asked if Belgrade's goal was a partitioning of Kosovo, Samardzic replied in the negative, pointing out that the goal was to sustain the existing situation - Serbs having obligations to Serbia and the state to them. "That is a new regime of duality of government and it should be regulated in a peaceful manner," he stated, going on to say that the topic of the status was not current and that Belgrade had no hidden agenda. Meanwhile, UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker condemned the "violent attacks by Kosovo Serb groups on the boundary crossings in northern Mitrovica which resulted in the destruction of property." "Any violence is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I have asked the UNMIK Police Commissioner and COMKFOR to restore order at these boundary crossings," Ruecker said in a statement. "The attacks are clearly in violation of UNMIK's mandate." Ruecker and the KFOR commander decided that the crossings will be closed for 24 hours.

"Checkpoint action in line with gov't policy"

Samardžić, DSS, told B92 that the destruction of police checkpoints was a direct reaction by the population north of the Ibar River, which does not recognize the unilaterally proclaimed independence of Kosovo.

"I believe that it is legitimate. It may not be nice, but it is legitimate," he said of the Feb. 19 actions of Serbs who vandalized UNMIK's customs checkpoints and torched several of the mission's vehicles.

According to him, Serbia has to date had jurisdiction in the areas of education, social policy, culture and health care, but plans to expand that jurisdiction and, among other things, take over customs policy in northern Kosovo.

"We did not arrange this way of taking over the customs checkpoints," he said, adding that around 15,000 people had gathered spontaneously and that it was important that no-one had been hurt.

Samardžić pointed out another benefit of the actions at the checkpoints was the fact that UNMIK intended to transfer some of its customs jurisdiction to the EU mission and that Serbia could not allow the EU mission to take over the customs checkpoints.

Asked if Belgrade's goal was a partitioning of Kosovo, Samardžić replied in the negative, pointing out that the goal was to sustain the existing situation - Serbs having obligations to Serbia and the state to them.

"That is a new regime of duality of government and it should be regulated in a peaceful manner," he stated, going on to say that the topic of the status was not current and that Belgrade had no hidden agenda.

Meanwhile, UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker condemned the "violent attacks by Kosovo Serb groups on the boundary crossings in northern Mitrovica which resulted in the destruction of property."

"Any violence is completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated. I have asked the UNMIK Police Commissioner and COMKFOR to restore order at these boundary crossings," Ruecker said in a statement.

"The attacks are clearly in violation of UNMIK's mandate." Ruecker and the KFOR commander decided that the crossings will be closed for 24 hours.

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