Ruecker to Belgrade: Stop attacking Kosovo

Joachim Ruecker wants Belgrade to "stop with attacks in Kosovo". Serbs remain inside the K. Mitrovica courthouse. This statement from the UNMIK chief, carried by Beta news agency, came after local Serb justice workers in Kosovska Mitrovica this morning entered the court building, from which they were thrown out in 1999. The workers have been protesting since February 21, demanding to return to their jobs. Ruecker to Belgrade: Stop attacking Kosovo Reports say that the situation in and around the court building is calm this evening. Employees who entered the premises this morning are determined to stay there until an agreement is reached with UNMIK. Some protesters told Tanjug they intend to stay in the building in shifts during the night and added they had not accessed the court archives. Beta news agency has in the meantime confirmed that 50 people would stay inside the building tonight, while citizens, protesting peacefully, will be outside. Special UNMIK police units from Poland and Ukraine are deployed ourside and two ambulances are parked at the gate. Beta says that the policemen no longer wear their riot gear this evening. A Serbian flag is flying above the building. Earlier, Ruecker said he had ordered UNMIK police to reestablish order. The protestors broke through the police cordon and the gates of the Municipal and District Court, and after entering the court at around 08:30 CET, raised the Serbian flag. Kosovo Police Service (KPS) members and UNMIK police guarding the building did not use any force to prevent the disgruntled workers from entering. Ruecker said this afternoon he had a "telephone conversation with the representatives of the Serbian authorities ", where he informed them that the international administration would not tolerate "the blatant disregard for law and order". The Serb workers have, after four weeks of protest, positioned themseves around the court corridors from where they were expelled with UNMIK and KFOR's arrival in Kosovo in 1999, because, as they say, no-one from the international community has wanted to talk to them. With the help of six ambulances, they broke two gates and a sign reading UNMIK District and Municipal Court, before raising the Serbian flag. "We're not in the offices as they are closed. We won't go in, or break anything, because archives and cases are in there," said District Public Prosecutor Milan Bigovic. "We didn't bring weapons, we just brought the law and that's why they should leave us be, put down their weapons, open the gates and let us into the building to revive law and order," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Milanka Prstojevic. Meanwhile, Ruecker said that "those who resort to violence in northern Mitrovica have crossed UNMIK's red line." He said that the culprits would be tried and has asked the Serbian authorities to prevent any similar incidents. The UNMIK chief repeated that "any disagreement must be considered in a civilized manner and without use of force". "I believe that each of the authors of today's attack will face justice. I once again call on all communities to stop with attacks and to help us secure a safe environment. UNMIK will protect its mandate in the whole territory of Kosovo," the German diplomat said. Also today outside the building, police found an unexploded grenade, following a tip-off, that was then removed. Earlier, Kosovo Albanian leadership called on UNMIK to "restore order", describing the protesting Serbs as "hooligans". This morning, one of the representatives of the protesting workers Miodrag Ralic said that all attempts at reaching an agreement with UNMIK officials for the Serb workers to return to their posts had proved fruitless. "The workers just wanted to use their basic human right, and that is the right to order," Ralic said, adding that today's forced entry had been "normal and justified." Prior to UNMIK and KFOR’s arrival in Kosovo in 1999, some 200 Serbs worked in the Kosovska Mitrovica courts, who have all since been dismissed. They have been protesting daily since February 21, asking to return to their jobs. Justice workers outside the court building in Kosovska Mitrovica (Tanjug)

Ruecker to Belgrade: Stop attacking Kosovo

Reports say that the situation in and around the court building is calm this evening. Employees who entered the premises this morning are determined to stay there until an agreement is reached with UNMIK.

Some protesters told Tanjug they intend to stay in the building in shifts during the night and added they had not accessed the court archives.

Beta news agency has in the meantime confirmed that 50 people would stay inside the building tonight, while citizens, protesting peacefully, will be outside.

Special UNMIK police units from Poland and Ukraine are deployed ourside and two ambulances are parked at the gate. Beta says that the policemen no longer wear their riot gear this evening. A Serbian flag is flying above the building.

Earlier, Ruecker said he had ordered UNMIK police to reestablish order.

The protestors broke through the police cordon and the gates of the Municipal and District Court, and after entering the court at around 08:30 CET, raised the Serbian flag.

Kosovo Police Service (KPS) members and UNMIK police guarding the building did not use any force to prevent the disgruntled workers from entering.

Ruecker said this afternoon he had a "telephone conversation with the representatives of the Serbian authorities ", where he informed them that the international administration would not tolerate "the blatant disregard for law and order".

The Serb workers have, after four weeks of protest, positioned themseves around the court corridors from where they were expelled with UNMIK and KFOR's arrival in Kosovo in 1999, because, as they say, no-one from the international community has wanted to talk to them.

With the help of six ambulances, they broke two gates and a sign reading UNMIK District and Municipal Court, before raising the Serbian flag.

"We're not in the offices as they are closed. We won't go in, or break anything, because archives and cases are in there," said District Public Prosecutor Milan Bigović.

"We didn't bring weapons, we just brought the law and that's why they should leave us be, put down their weapons, open the gates and let us into the building to revive law and order," said Deputy Public Prosecutor Milanka Prstojević.

Meanwhile, Ruecker said that "those who resort to violence in northern Mitrovica have crossed UNMIK's red line."

He said that the culprits would be tried and has asked the Serbian authorities to prevent any similar incidents.

The UNMIK chief repeated that "any disagreement must be considered in a civilized manner and without use of force".

"I believe that each of the authors of today's attack will face justice. I once again call on all communities to stop with attacks and to help us secure a safe environment. UNMIK will protect its mandate in the whole territory of Kosovo," the German diplomat said.

Also today outside the building, police found an unexploded grenade, following a tip-off, that was then removed.

Earlier, Kosovo Albanian leadership called on UNMIK to "restore order", describing the protesting Serbs as "hooligans".

This morning, one of the representatives of the protesting workers Miodrag Ralić said that all attempts at reaching an agreement with UNMIK officials for the Serb workers to return to their posts had proved fruitless.

"The workers just wanted to use their basic human right, and that is the right to order," Ralić said, adding that today's forced entry had been "normal and justified."

Prior to UNMIK and KFOR’s arrival in Kosovo in 1999, some 200 Serbs worked in the Kosovska Mitrovica courts, who have all since been dismissed.

They have been protesting daily since February 21, asking to return to their jobs.