N. Kosovo Serbs warn of violation of crossings agreement

ZVECAN Mayors of four northern Kosovo towns have assessed that the agreement on the integrated crossings management at Jarinje has been violated since the beginning. They request an explanation from the Serbian government. N. Kosovo Serbs warn of violation of crossings agreement Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic Mayors Krstimir Pantic, Dragisa Milovic, Slavisa Ristic and Dragisa Vasic told Zvecan-based Most TV that they would request an “explanation from the Serbian government for what is happening at the Jarinje crossing”. They added that they would not accept a border between central Serbia and Kosovo and that they would not accept to live in independent Kosovo. Pantic said that the decision to end the protest at the Jarinje crossing had been “difficult but wise” because it gave the state room to react and continue the EU pathway. He noted, however, that citizens could organize protests again if the agreement on the integrated crossings management was violated. “We will first hold a session of the four municipalities and if councilors decide to protest again because of the violation of the agreement, we will respect it and we are ruling out a possibility of their radicalization such as setting up barricades in all four municipalities,” Pantic explained. Milovic said that the protest had been suspended so northern Kosovo Serbs would not be blamed for “all the bad things that are happening to Serbia”. “We have showed maturity and unity and that we want to be with our government from whom we expect honesty and truth because the people deserve that,” he noted. According to him, the citizens are determined not to allow border to be established at the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings. Ristic stressed that “survival on their territory is much more important to the northern Kosovo citizens than the EU integration”. “Our survival is directly connected and conditioned with moves made by the Belgrade government and people are monitoring what has been happening with the implementation of the agreement since the beginning with wariness,” he added. According to him, there are already certain violations of guarantees given by the Serbian government on December 6. “It is humiliating for the people who cannot accept that Brussels decides on their lives and survival, even if it is constitutional,” he noted. Vasic expressed concern over violations of the agreement at the Jarinje crossing and announced that he would discuss the issue with businessmen on Wednesday. (Beta/AP) Beta

N. Kosovo Serbs warn of violation of crossings agreement

Kosovska Mitrovica, Zvečan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić Mayors Krstimir Pantić, Dragiša Milović, Slaviša Ristić and Dragiša Vasić told Zvečan-based Most TV that they would request an “explanation from the Serbian government for what is happening at the Jarinje crossing”.

They added that they would not accept a border between central Serbia and Kosovo and that they would not accept to live in independent Kosovo.

Pantić said that the decision to end the protest at the Jarinje crossing had been “difficult but wise” because it gave the state room to react and continue the EU pathway.

He noted, however, that citizens could organize protests again if the agreement on the integrated crossings management was violated.

“We will first hold a session of the four municipalities and if councilors decide to protest again because of the violation of the agreement, we will respect it and we are ruling out a possibility of their radicalization such as setting up barricades in all four municipalities,” Pantić explained.

Milović said that the protest had been suspended so northern Kosovo Serbs would not be blamed for “all the bad things that are happening to Serbia”.

“We have showed maturity and unity and that we want to be with our government from whom we expect honesty and truth because the people deserve that,” he noted.

According to him, the citizens are determined not to allow border to be established at the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings.

Ristić stressed that “survival on their territory is much more important to the northern Kosovo citizens than the EU integration”.

“Our survival is directly connected and conditioned with moves made by the Belgrade government and people are monitoring what has been happening with the implementation of the agreement since the beginning with wariness,” he added.

According to him, there are already certain violations of guarantees given by the Serbian government on December 6.

“It is humiliating for the people who cannot accept that Brussels decides on their lives and survival, even if it is constitutional,” he noted.

Vasić expressed concern over violations of the agreement at the Jarinje crossing and announced that he would discuss the issue with businessmen on Wednesday.