Kosovo: Homes of Serb returnees set on fire

Two houses belonging to Serb returnees were burnt down in the village of Drenovac in Kosovo and Metohija, late on Tuesday. The village is located south of the Ibar River, where Serbs live in isolated enclaves. Kosovo: Homes of Serb returnees set on fire Nenad Stasic, who lives in the village, told Tanjug news agency that around midnight fire damaged the houses of Milovan Radosavljevic and Arso Stepic, but that no one was inside at that time. Firefighters arrived around 01:00, but the fire had already destroyed Radosavljevic's house, whereas the second home was damaged to a lesser degree, he said. Stasic also said that Serb returnees from the village believe that the houses were set on fire "in order to send a clear message to Serbs that they do not belong in Metohija". "Last week it was agreed that another 12 houses for Kosovo Serb returnees will be built. This is the message for those people as well that they are not welcome here," the villager said. Last year, first seven Serb families returned to Drenovac, five of which live in the village permanently. Kosovo police (KPS) was expected to send "special units to the scene", according to Tanjug. Their role would be to conduct an investigation and determine the cause of the fire. Ministry for Kosovo condemns attacks on Serbs The Ministry for Kosovo condemned on Wednesday the burning of the homes of Serb returnees in the village of Drenovac in Kosovo and called on EULEX to find the perpetrators. "We call on all relevant international factors in the province to use their authority to compel the so-called Pristina institutions and Kosovo Albanian officials to truly ensure the safety of Kosovo Serbs south of the Ibar, instead of pompously announcing their plan for northern Kosovo, and suppress Albanian extremism instead of encouraging it," says the release. The ministry notes it has warned representatives of the international community on several occasions about the constant attacks and the difficult position of Serb returnees in Kosovo, and about the deteriorating situation in Klina in particular. "The ministry is calling on KFOR to strengthen its presence in returnee villages near Klina and protect Serb lives and property from Albanian extremists. The burning of houses in the village of Drenovac, and other unresolved attacks on returnees reflect Pristina's position and treatment of Serb returnees and IDPs," says the release. Tanjug

Kosovo: Homes of Serb returnees set on fire

Nenad Stašić, who lives in the village, told Tanjug news agency that around midnight fire damaged the houses of Milovan Radosavljević and Arso Stepić, but that no one was inside at that time.

Firefighters arrived around 01:00, but the fire had already destroyed Radosavljević's house, whereas the second home was damaged to a lesser degree, he said.

Stašić also said that Serb returnees from the village believe that the houses were set on fire "in order to send a clear message to Serbs that they do not belong in Metohija".

"Last week it was agreed that another 12 houses for Kosovo Serb returnees will be built. This is the message for those people as well that they are not welcome here," the villager said.

Last year, first seven Serb families returned to Drenovac, five of which live in the village permanently.

Kosovo police (KPS) was expected to send "special units to the scene", according to Tanjug. Their role would be to conduct an investigation and determine the cause of the fire.

Ministry for Kosovo condemns attacks on Serbs

The Ministry for Kosovo condemned on Wednesday the burning of the homes of Serb returnees in the village of Drenovac in Kosovo and called on EULEX to find the perpetrators.

"We call on all relevant international factors in the province to use their authority to compel the so-called Priština institutions and Kosovo Albanian officials to truly ensure the safety of Kosovo Serbs south of the Ibar, instead of pompously announcing their plan for northern Kosovo, and suppress Albanian extremism instead of encouraging it," says the release.

The ministry notes it has warned representatives of the international community on several occasions about the constant attacks and the difficult position of Serb returnees in Kosovo, and about the deteriorating situation in Klina in particular.

"The ministry is calling on KFOR to strengthen its presence in returnee villages near Klina and protect Serb lives and property from Albanian extremists. The burning of houses in the village of Drenovac, and other unresolved attacks on returnees reflect Pristina's position and treatment of Serb returnees and IDPs," says the release.