Šutanovac, Samardžić trade accusations

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac expressed his deep regret over the death of an UNMIK policeman. The officer died Tuesday from the wounds he sustained yesterday in the unrest that broke out in northern Kosovska Mitrovica. Sutanovac, Samardzic trade accusations Sutanovac, DS, also and sent sincerest condolences to the family of the victim. He pointed out that the policeman in question was a member of the Ukrainian contingent, "whose country had not recognized the independence of Kosovo", a man who came under the UN flag to keep peace and order in Kosovo and Metohija. The defense minister said it was "difficult to say who contributed less or more" to what happened Monday, pointing out that the most important thing was to preempt unrest, so that there is no repeat of violence and that it was "in the interest of both sides." He also said that only Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic, DSS, is in contact with the representatives of the Kosovo Serbs in the north of the province, but added that he was "not convinced" all "structures" there are under control. Both ministers are members of the caretaker government. The parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 11, with their parties and leaders are positioned as political rivals. As for the Ministry for Kosovo and its part of the government Kosovo Action Plan, Sutanovac says he requested it, but "was told that he can only have access to it at the Serbian government headquarters". He described the fact that the MoD does not know what this plan envisages as "scandalous". "I don't know what their plans are. Yesterday Samardzic took some plan to Ruecker. He said there, that we will return the favor [for the arrest of Serbs]. I don't know on whose behalf he spoke, but he did not speak on behalf of the government. Whether he spoke for himself, or for the DSS, I don't know. The rhetoric used by Samardzic is not leading toward the calming of the situation," Sutanovac said. In a statement to reporters after the marking of the Military Academy Day in Belgrade, Sutanovac cautioned that what happened yesterday was just a small segment of what could happen, should things spiral out of control, and underlined that he did not want to see "someone making improper decisions, causing the creation of a Beirut in the territory of Serbia." Samardzic reacted to these accusations in a statement for Tanjug late Tuesday. "It is very strange, what Minister Sutanovac is involved in today. At a time when a part of our state is threatened, he, instead of being occupied with his portfolio, and that is the defense of the country, is attacking me." "I have spent two days in Kosovo and Metohija in order to do everything to maintain peace and stability," Samardzic told the news agency. He added the information that the defense minister has is "completely wrong", that it was the Serbs who were yesterday brutally attacked by UNMIK and KFOR troops, to which they responded. "Tadic was informed about this in time. I spoke to him at about two o'clock, submitted a brief report and we had a deal on what to do next," Samardzic said, and specified that everything was done to ensure peace in Kosovo, especially in Kosovska Mitrovica. According to Samardzic, peace was secured, and "everything ended in the best possible way", because, "not only did the UNMIK-KFOR action, meant to intimidate the Serbs, fail, but the intention to arrest innocent judges in a brutal way and transfer them to Pristina also failed". "Yesterday, the best possible job was done for the state of Serbia, which was achievable without any participation of Defense Minister Sutanovac. He is now making statements as if he were a foreigner, and that is truly unacceptable," Samardzic, who was today made the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) deputy president, concluded. More than 100 people were wounded in the incidents in the north of Kosovska Mitrovica, following the storming by UNMIK police and KFOR troops of the courthouse in which Serb employees were protesting their sacking from work. Among the injured are 70 Serbs, 15 of whom seriously, while two are in a critical condition.

Šutanovac, Samardžić trade accusations

Šutanovac, DS, also and sent sincerest condolences to the family of the victim.

He pointed out that the policeman in question was a member of the Ukrainian contingent, "whose country had not recognized the independence of Kosovo", a man who came under the UN flag to keep peace and order in Kosovo and Metohija.

The defense minister said it was "difficult to say who contributed less or more" to what happened Monday, pointing out that the most important thing was to preempt unrest, so that there is no repeat of violence and that it was "in the interest of both sides."

He also said that only Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardžić, DSS, is in contact with the representatives of the Kosovo Serbs in the north of the province, but added that he was "not convinced" all "structures" there are under control.

Both ministers are members of the caretaker government. The parliamentary elections are scheduled for May 11, with their parties and leaders are positioned as political rivals.

As for the Ministry for Kosovo and its part of the government Kosovo Action Plan, Šutanovac says he requested it, but "was told that he can only have access to it at the Serbian government headquarters".

He described the fact that the MoD does not know what this plan envisages as "scandalous".

"I don't know what their plans are. Yesterday Samardžić took some plan to Ruecker. He said there, that we will return the favor [for the arrest of Serbs]. I don't know on whose behalf he spoke, but he did not speak on behalf of the government. Whether he spoke for himself, or for the DSS, I don't know. The rhetoric used by Samardžić is not leading toward the calming of the situation," Šutanovac said.

In a statement to reporters after the marking of the Military Academy Day in Belgrade, Šutanovac cautioned that what happened yesterday was just a small segment of what could happen, should things spiral out of control, and underlined that he did not want to see "someone making improper decisions, causing the creation of a Beirut in the territory of Serbia."

Samardžić reacted to these accusations in a statement for Tanjug late Tuesday.

"It is very strange, what Minister Šutanovac is involved in today. At a time when a part of our state is threatened, he, instead of being occupied with his portfolio, and that is the defense of the country, is attacking me."

"I have spent two days in Kosovo and Metohija in order to do everything to maintain peace and stability," Samardžić told the news agency.

He added the information that the defense minister has is "completely wrong", that it was the Serbs who were yesterday brutally attacked by UNMIK and KFOR troops, to which they responded.

"Tadić was informed about this in time. I spoke to him at about two o'clock, submitted a brief report and we had a deal on what to do next," Samardžić said, and specified that everything was done to ensure peace in Kosovo, especially in Kosovska Mitrovica.

According to Samardžić, peace was secured, and "everything ended in the best possible way", because, "not only did the UNMIK-KFOR action, meant to intimidate the Serbs, fail, but the intention to arrest innocent judges in a brutal way and transfer them to Priština also failed".

"Yesterday, the best possible job was done for the state of Serbia, which was achievable without any participation of Defense Minister Šutanovac. He is now making statements as if he were a foreigner, and that is truly unacceptable," Samardžić, who was today made the Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) deputy president, concluded.

More than 100 people were wounded in the incidents in the north of Kosovska Mitrovica, following the storming by UNMIK police and KFOR troops of the courthouse in which Serb employees were protesting their sacking from work.

Among the injured are 70 Serbs, 15 of whom seriously, while two are in a critical condition.