Serbs in K. Mitrovica court for second night

The high-tension standoff at the Kosovska Mitrovica courthouse continues this evening. Some 100 Serb judicial workers, including judges, who yesterday entered the court after 20 days of peaceful protests, are inside the building. Serbs in K. Mitrovica court for second night District Prosecutor Milan Bigovic, speaking on behalf of the protesters, told Beta news agency that they will stay inside all night. "We will persevere in our demand to continue work in our offices," he said, and repeated the Serbs will insist that the misunderstandings about their return to the building must be resoved in talks with UNMIK's judicial officials. "During the day, on several occasions, tension was raised due to announcements that police would throw the employees out of the court. So far things have been peaceful and I hope it will remain that way," Bigovic said. Earlier today, UNMIK police was asking the protesters to leave the Kosovska Mitrovica court, "or face punishment". This is what the Serb National Council (SNV) chairman Nebojsa Jovic told reporters in the divided north Kosovo town, after a meeting with local UNMIK police commander David McClean. "Otherwise, a special UNMIK police team will arrive and restore order in its own way, meaning, throwing the employees out of the court," Jovic said. Also earlier today, B92's reporter in Kosovska Mitrovica quoted high UNMIK police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to say that "strong forces will in the afternoon or evening" storm the gates of the courthouse. "They told us clearly that punishment of those who are responsible for yesterday's entry will follow and ordered us to immediately put up UNMIK's, and remove the Serbian flag," Jovic explained. "We said the deadline of 12:00 was too short, and suggested that since Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardzic is meeting UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker on Monday, we ought to wait for the outcome of these talks, and then easily adjust to what they agree on," Jovic explained. He also said UNMIK was told that any attempts to arrest protestors or use force against them would destabilize the situation and spark chaos in the town, "that would be difficult to find a way out of". Serbs have emphasized their readiness for cooperation and reaching of an agreement, Jovic added. As for the demand that the Serbian state flag be removed, the Serb answer was that UNMIK's flag was on the courthouse the whole time, while the Serbian flag cannot be a problem, considering that Kosovo is a part of Serbia and that Serb judicial workers will work at the building. Jovic emphasized that his organization cannot decide on behalf of those in the building, concerning their next moves. UNMIK police initiated the meeting with the Serb representatives today. Meanwhile, Albanian language media in the province say that a Ukrainian policeman who yesterday put the Serbian flag on his UNMIK vehicle will be suspended. Koha Ditore quotes UN spokesman Aleksandar Ivanko who said that "orders were given to immediately identify and suspend the officer". The Serb judicial workers, who entered the building yesterday after more than 20 days of peaceful protests, stayed inside overnight Friday. The previous night passed without incidents. UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker and Kosovo Albanian leaders in Pristina yesterday called for police to restore order. The Serb employees are adamant they will not leave the building until they are once again given the opportunity to work in their offices. The Serbs were driven out of the northern Kosovska Mitrovica court on August 11, 1999. They have continued to work within the Ministry of Justice system, but from private homes and premises. Serb judicial workers place the Serbian flag at the Kosovska Mitrovica court (FoNet)

Serbs in K. Mitrovica court for second night

District Prosecutor Milan Bigović, speaking on behalf of the protesters, told Beta news agency that they will stay inside all night.

"We will persevere in our demand to continue work in our offices," he said, and repeated the Serbs will insist that the misunderstandings about their return to the building must be resoved in talks with UNMIK's judicial officials.

"During the day, on several occasions, tension was raised due to announcements that police would throw the employees out of the court. So far things have been peaceful and I hope it will remain that way," Bigović said.

Earlier today, UNMIK police was asking the protesters to leave the Kosovska Mitrovica court, "or face punishment".

This is what the Serb National Council (SNV) chairman Nebojša Jović told reporters in the divided north Kosovo town, after a meeting with local UNMIK police commander David McClean.

"Otherwise, a special UNMIK police team will arrive and restore order in its own way, meaning, throwing the employees out of the court," Jović said.

Also earlier today, B92's reporter in Kosovska Mitrovica quoted high UNMIK police sources who spoke on condition of anonymity to say that "strong forces will in the afternoon or evening" storm the gates of the courthouse.

"They told us clearly that punishment of those who are responsible for yesterday's entry will follow and ordered us to immediately put up UNMIK's, and remove the Serbian flag," Jović explained.

"We said the deadline of 12:00 was too short, and suggested that since Minister for Kosovo Slobodan Samardžić is meeting UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker on Monday, we ought to wait for the outcome of these talks, and then easily adjust to what they agree on," Jović explained.

He also said UNMIK was told that any attempts to arrest protestors or use force against them would destabilize the situation and spark chaos in the town, "that would be difficult to find a way out of".

Serbs have emphasized their readiness for cooperation and reaching of an agreement, Jović added.

As for the demand that the Serbian state flag be removed, the Serb answer was that UNMIK's flag was on the courthouse the whole time, while the Serbian flag cannot be a problem, considering that Kosovo is a part of Serbia and that Serb judicial workers will work at the building.

Jović emphasized that his organization cannot decide on behalf of those in the building, concerning their next moves.

UNMIK police initiated the meeting with the Serb representatives today.

Meanwhile, Albanian language media in the province say that a Ukrainian policeman who yesterday put the Serbian flag on his UNMIK vehicle will be suspended.

Koha Ditore quotes UN spokesman Aleksandar Ivanko who said that "orders were given to immediately identify and suspend the officer".

The Serb judicial workers, who entered the building yesterday after more than 20 days of peaceful protests, stayed inside overnight Friday.

The previous night passed without incidents.

UNMIK chief Joachim Ruecker and Kosovo Albanian leaders in Priština yesterday called for police to restore order.

The Serb employees are adamant they will not leave the building until they are once again given the opportunity to work in their offices.

The Serbs were driven out of the northern Kosovska Mitrovica court on August 11, 1999. They have continued to work within the Ministry of Justice system, but from private homes and premises.