Ilić: Kosovo Serbs will have police

Velimir Ilic says that the Kosovo Action Plan envisages local Serbs to have their own police force. The infrastructure minister in the Kostunica cabinet was speaking in a news conference today in Belgrade, but refused to give any details. Ilic: Kosovo Serbs will have police Most of the provisions of the government Action Plan for Kosovo are treated as state secret. On several previouso occasions, Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic announced that a unilateral declaration of independence by the Kosovo Albanians would bemet with the strengthening of Serbia's institutions in the province in the areas of education, health and economy. This is the first time that the security sector has been publicly mentioned in the context. Ilic's comments today came after the news that Serbs were leaving the ranks of the Kosovo police, KPS. "We will have our local police in Serb areas. This is from the Action Plan," Ilic said, and added his was "not surprised by the news. But he did not offer any further comment. This morning, KIM Radio said that Serbs in eastern Kosovo who were members of the KPS, were withdrawing from the force. The Kosovska-Mitrovica based radio said that they gathered at a local culture center in the village of Ranilug, in the eastern, Kosovska Kamenica region, to determine what their next steps will be. The officers are protesting Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, and say they will now act in accordance with the government Action Plan. An Albanian spokesman for the Kosovo police, KPS, in Gnjilane said today that although he could confirm "Serb policemen have left the force", this "did not constitute for a collective refusal of subordination to the regional command". "We don't have the exact number. It's true some have not shown up for work in the past couple of days, but many are on holiday or having days off," he was vague. Meantime in Pristina, two Kosovo Serbs ministers in the government led by Hashim Thaci announced they were "freezing their positions". Nenad Rasic and Boban Stankovic opted for this move until they make the final decision on whether to stay in the government or leave, Albanian language media report today. Some 80 staff in their ministries, all ethnic Serbs, have stopped showing up for work since Pristina unilaterally declared independence, rejected by Belgrade as illegal.

Ilić: Kosovo Serbs will have police

Most of the provisions of the government Action Plan for Kosovo are treated as state secret.

On several previouso occasions, Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardžić announced that a unilateral declaration of independence by the Kosovo Albanians would bemet with the strengthening of Serbia's institutions in the province in the areas of education, health and economy.

This is the first time that the security sector has been publicly mentioned in the context.

Ilić's comments today came after the news that Serbs were leaving the ranks of the Kosovo police, KPS.

"We will have our local police in Serb areas. This is from the Action Plan," Ilić said, and added his was "not surprised by the news. But he did not offer any further comment.

This morning, KIM Radio said that Serbs in eastern Kosovo who were members of the KPS, were withdrawing from the force.

The Kosovska-Mitrovica based radio said that they gathered at a local culture center in the village of Ranilug, in the eastern, Kosovska Kamenica region, to determine what their next steps will be.

The officers are protesting Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, and say they will now act in accordance with the government Action Plan.

An Albanian spokesman for the Kosovo police, KPS, in Gnjilane said today that although he could confirm "Serb policemen have left the force", this "did not constitute for a collective refusal of subordination to the regional command".

"We don't have the exact number. It's true some have not shown up for work in the past couple of days, but many are on holiday or having days off," he was vague.

Meantime in Priština, two Kosovo Serbs ministers in the government led by Hashim Thaci announced they were "freezing their positions".

Nenad Rašić and Boban Stanković opted for this move until they make the final decision on whether to stay in the government or leave, Albanian language media report today.

Some 80 staff in their ministries, all ethnic Serbs, have stopped showing up for work since Priština unilaterally declared independence, rejected by Belgrade as illegal.