K. Serbs talk power problem in Belgrade

A delegation of Serbs from Kosovo, whose villages have been left without electricity for three weeks now, will meet with government representatives. They traveled to Belgrade to discuss the problem with ministers for Kosovo and energy, but also with the parliament speaker. K. Serbs talk power problem in Belgrade Kosovsko-Pomoravski District chief Dragan Nikolic told B92 that this delegation is arriving in order to learn about the ways in which the state plans to help them. "There are no strict demands, except for information that will be delivered, that is, I hope we will agree on the next moves at that meeting," says Nikolic. Afterwards, he continued, the delegation will inform the local self-government and residents of this area of Kosovo about the decisions made at the meeting. Nikolic specified that in his district, power has been cut off to 11 villages with 7,500 residents. "People are mostly managing in alternative ways, by using small generators that serve for the most basic needs, but most people don't even have that," he explains. According to a recent statement from the Kosovo company distributing electricity, KEK, its workers will not fix grid failures and reconnect villages "until citizens start paying bills". "Speedy work" Secretary of State with the Ministry of Mining and Energy Radivoje Milanovic said on Monday that "speedy work is under way on resolving, legally and transparently", the problems with the electricity supply of Serbs in Kosovo so that a humanitarian disaster could be avoided. Speaking in a statement for state broadcaster RTS on the occasion of today's meeting with Serbs from the Kosovsko Pomoravlje region at the Serbian government, Milanovic expressed readiness for these problems to be resolved in a transparent and legal manner, in cooperation with the international community. He underscored that the ministries for energy and for Kosovo would work on this. Political pressure and a political campaign are in effect against Serbs in Kosovo, he said, "which are carried out in the 21st century by cutting off the electricity supply. This is impermissible and insupportable," he said. " UNMIK, for political reasons, rejected an offer from the ministry that 50 million kWh of electricity should be earmarked monthly as a donation for helping the energy situation in Kosovo," Milanovic said.

K. Serbs talk power problem in Belgrade

Kosovsko-Pomoravski District chief Dragan Nikolić told B92 that this delegation is arriving in order to learn about the ways in which the state plans to help them.

"There are no strict demands, except for information that will be delivered, that is, I hope we will agree on the next moves at that meeting," says Nikolić.

Afterwards, he continued, the delegation will inform the local self-government and residents of this area of Kosovo about the decisions made at the meeting.

Nikolić specified that in his district, power has been cut off to 11 villages with 7,500 residents.

"People are mostly managing in alternative ways, by using small generators that serve for the most basic needs, but most people don't even have that," he explains.

According to a recent statement from the Kosovo company distributing electricity, KEK, its workers will not fix grid failures and reconnect villages "until citizens start paying bills".

"Speedy work"

Secretary of State with the Ministry of Mining and Energy Radivoje Milanović said on Monday that "speedy work is under way on resolving, legally and transparently", the problems with the electricity supply of Serbs in Kosovo so that a humanitarian disaster could be avoided.

Speaking in a statement for state broadcaster RTS on the occasion of today's meeting with Serbs from the Kosovsko Pomoravlje region at the Serbian government, Milanović expressed readiness for these problems to be resolved in a transparent and legal manner, in cooperation with the international community.

He underscored that the ministries for energy and for Kosovo would work on this.

Political pressure and a political campaign are in effect against Serbs in Kosovo, he said, "which are carried out in the 21st century by cutting off the electricity supply. This is impermissible and insupportable," he said.

" UNMIK, for political reasons, rejected an offer from the ministry that 50 million kWh of electricity should be earmarked monthly as a donation for helping the energy situation in Kosovo," Milanović said.