EPS back in control in Štrpce

Serbian power company EPS has taken over control of its substation in the Kosovo municipality of Strpce, KiM Radio reports. This came after the Kosovo company in charge of distributing electricity in the province, KEK, today briefly took over the substation, when its workers entered its premises by force. EPS back in control in Strpce Strpce municipal head Zvonko Mihajlovic says the situation in the town is now calm. Tanjug reports him as saying that a large group of locals who gathered in front of the substation forced KEK and KPS members out. "The residents have gone home peacefully, KEK workers who raided the substation today have withdrawn, as have the police, and EPS workers again have control over it," he explained. The municipality will this evening hold an open session, Mihajlovic announced. "Residents will also take part in the session, where we will agree on our next steps, on what position to take and how to react to this problem," he was quoted as saying. Earlier on Wednesday, KEK employees, with the help of Kosovo police, KPS, seized control of the EPS-owned substation in Strpce. Substation foreman Tinko Davidovic said that 14 Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) staff who had been employed at the station had literally been chased from their places of work. “KEK workers turned up, and, with the help of Kosovo police officers, having cut through the chain on the gate and doors, entered the facility from which we were expelled,“ he said. “The situation’s tense, people have gathered in front of the substation,“ he said. Mihajlovic said earlier today that this was an attempt to close the Serb institutions, and that the next step would be occupation of the remaining Serb institutions in the spheres of health care, education and local self-government. “I’ve asked the police to remove the KEK employees who’ve entered the sub-station and for the EPS employees to return,“ he said. The troubles come after Serbs in Strpce, who have been without power for 20 days, said that they were ready to open talks with KEK with a view to the power being restored. Mihajlovic said that one concession they were seeking was that KEK give local officials authority over the substation in Strpce.Mihajlovic said that this would mean that the 14 employees there would implement electricity restrictions received from KEK. “This means that those working in the Strpce substation will agree to execute some of the orders coming from KEK. If anyone calls them and tells them to turn off power in one village, turn it on in another, then they’ll carry out these orders, but they will continue to have ties with EPS,” he explained. Another of the demands is also the signing of a collective and individual agreement for paying electricity bills with KEK. Mihajlovic said that the Ministry for Kosovo’s position was that concessions must be made and an agreement signed. During the first ten days of electricity restrictions, Strpce residents received so-called “humanitarian electric energy” during the night. They have been in total darkness since July 11.

EPS back in control in Štrpce

Štrpce municipal head Zvonko Mihajlović says the situation in the town is now calm. Tanjug reports him as saying that a large group of locals who gathered in front of the substation forced KEK and KPS members out.

"The residents have gone home peacefully, KEK workers who raided the substation today have withdrawn, as have the police, and EPS workers again have control over it," he explained.

The municipality will this evening hold an open session, Mihajlović announced.

"Residents will also take part in the session, where we will agree on our next steps, on what position to take and how to react to this problem," he was quoted as saying.

Earlier on Wednesday, KEK employees, with the help of Kosovo police, KPS, seized control of the EPS-owned substation in Štrpce.

Substation foreman Tinko Davidović said that 14 Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS) staff who had been employed at the station had literally been chased from their places of work.

“KEK workers turned up, and, with the help of Kosovo police officers, having cut through the chain on the gate and doors, entered the facility from which we were expelled,“ he said.

“The situation’s tense, people have gathered in front of the substation,“ he said.

Mihajlović said earlier today that this was an attempt to close the Serb institutions, and that the next step would be occupation of the remaining Serb institutions in the spheres of health care, education and local self-government.

“I’ve asked the police to remove the KEK employees who’ve entered the sub-station and for the EPS employees to return,“ he said.

The troubles come after Serbs in Štrpce, who have been without power for 20 days, said that they were ready to open talks with KEK with a view to the power being restored.

Mihajlović said that one concession they were seeking was that KEK give local officials authority over the substation in Štrpce.Mihajlović said that this would mean that the 14 employees there would implement electricity restrictions received from KEK.

“This means that those working in the Štrpce substation will agree to execute some of the orders coming from KEK. If anyone calls them and tells them to turn off power in one village, turn it on in another, then they’ll carry out these orders, but they will continue to have ties with EPS,” he explained.

Another of the demands is also the signing of a collective and individual agreement for paying electricity bills with KEK.

Mihajlović said that the Ministry for Kosovo’s position was that concessions must be made and an agreement signed.

During the first ten days of electricity restrictions, Štrpce residents received so-called “humanitarian electric energy” during the night.

They have been in total darkness since July 11.