Daily: Belgrade losing control at barricades

Serbian state institutions and ruling parties are not in control of the situation at barricades that Serbs have set up in northern Kosovo, daily Danas writes. According to the daily, Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and Democratic Party of Serbia (DSS) activists are controlling the situation at the barricades. Daily: Belgrade losing control at barricades Certain local leaders are also very influential, the daily’s sources from Kosovska Mitrovica say. Some sort of coordination with Belgrade officials only exists in the municipality of Leposavic which is run by the Democratic Party (DS). The barricades in the remaining three municipalities and at the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative checkpoints are in the hands of the people who are less and less willing to follow Serbian government’s instructions. The best example is the fact that Belgrade team head Borislav Stefanovic so far has not visited any single barricade except those in Leposavic and Jarnje. After Kosovo police special unit (ROSU) operation in July, local self-governments in northern Kosovo and the local Serb leaders organized barricades in agreement with Belgrade as “defense from new unilateral moves of Pristina and occupation attempts”. However, after September 2 and the agreement on customs stamp reached with KFOR in Brussels, all those who are not controlled by the DS have been opposing Belgrade. Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantic, Zvecan Mayor Dragisa Milovic and Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic called on Stefanovic to resign on September 4 and announced new barricades. They have accused the authorities of “betraying Serbs” by signing the customs stamp agreement and warned that they will not communicate with the team chief anymore. They were strongly supported by Northern Kosovo Serb National Council (SNV) President Milan Ivanovic and DSS’ Marko Jaksic and influential members of local communities, primarily controversial businessman Zvonko Veselinovic. According to the Danas’ sources, the main problem is the fact that northern Kosovo Serbs do not trust the Belgrade authorities. They are supported by the opposition parties, SNS, DSS and the Serb Radical Party (SRS), that have already started their election campaign, the daily’s sources pointed out. Northern Kosovo Serbs are seen at the barricades (Tanjug)

Daily: Belgrade losing control at barricades

Certain local leaders are also very influential, the daily’s sources from Kosovska Mitrovica say.

Some sort of coordination with Belgrade officials only exists in the municipality of Leposavić which is run by the Democratic Party (DS).

The barricades in the remaining three municipalities and at the Jarinje and Brnjak administrative checkpoints are in the hands of the people who are less and less willing to follow Serbian government’s instructions.

The best example is the fact that Belgrade team head Borislav Stefanović so far has not visited any single barricade except those in Leposavić and Jarnje.

After Kosovo police special unit (ROSU) operation in July, local self-governments in northern Kosovo and the local Serb leaders organized barricades in agreement with Belgrade as “defense from new unilateral moves of Priština and occupation attempts”.

However, after September 2 and the agreement on customs stamp reached with KFOR in Brussels, all those who are not controlled by the DS have been opposing Belgrade. Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Krstimir Pantić, Zvečan Mayor Dragiša Milović and Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić called on Stefanović to resign on September 4 and announced new barricades.

They have accused the authorities of “betraying Serbs” by signing the customs stamp agreement and warned that they will not communicate with the team chief anymore. They were strongly supported by Northern Kosovo Serb National Council (SNV) President Milan Ivanović and DSS’ Marko Jakšić and influential members of local communities, primarily controversial businessman Zvonko Veselinović.

According to the Danas’ sources, the main problem is the fact that northern Kosovo Serbs do not trust the Belgrade authorities. They are supported by the opposition parties, SNS, DSS and the Serb Radical Party (SRS), that have already started their election campaign, the daily’s sources pointed out.