KFOR wants EULEX to be allowed through barricades

Northern Kosovo Serb municipal representatives have decided to allow NATO troops, KFOR, partial freedom of movement through the barricades. According to the meeting's decision on Wednesday, it will be valid until the main reason for the setting up of the barricades has been removed - and that is the installation of Kosovo Albanian government's customs and police at the administrative checkpoints in the north. KFOR wants EULEX to be allowed through barricades Tanjug news agency is reporting that KFOR will be able to send supplies to its troops in the north, but that the citizens will "control" the convoys. However, a meeting with KFOR held after the joint session of municipalities "proved fruitless", Tanjug is reporting. Zubin Potok Mayor Slavisa Ristic told journalists that KFOR are now required that freedom of movement be also provided for EULEX, which the representatives of municipalities lacked authority to do, Ristic explained. Previously, local Serb leaders stated after the three-hour meeting that the councilors had decided not to remove the barricades completely but to let KFOR go through at the specific time and with certain number of troops. Zvecan Mayor Dobrisav Dobric added that their main request was to remove Pristina's customs and police from the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings. According to him, the barricades would be removed as soon as KFOR removed the customs officers and policemen from the checkpoints. After the meeting in Zubin potok, the four mayors went to a meeting with KFOR in order to present and discuss their decision. The session of the four northern Kosovo municipalities started a little after 11:00 CET in Zubin Potok. Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljkovic and Republic of Srpska (RS) Vice President Emil Vlajki also attended the meeting. Nedeljkovic said earlier on Wednesday that the northern Kosovo Serb representatives should make a rational decision and that the Serbian government had advised them not to get into conflicts with the international forces. “I think that this is a historic moment for survival of Serbs in these parts. We have to be very wise, determined and brave at the session today and make a rational decision,” he pointed out ahead of the meeting. He pointed out that the government, top officials and the president supported their peaceful and determined fight for their interests. “At the same time, we got recommendations from the top state officials not to react to provocations and that we must not confront and get into conflicts with KFOR and other international institutions,” Nedeljkovic pointed out. Serbian government's Media Office Chief Milivoje Mihajlovic expressed earlier expectation that the Wednesday meeting of representatives of four north Kosovo municipalities would result in a decision that would contribute to stabilization of situation and resolution of crisis in this part of the province. “This is a good chance for better communication between citizens and KFOR, which is the only one to guarantee security to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Mihajlovic said. He said that further complication of the situation as well as spending time near barricades are not in the interest of Serbs, but that they would persevere in order to prevent deployment of bodies of the so-called independent state of Kosovo north of the Ibar River. “Serbs have only one condition and that is status neutrality of KFOR, which should operate within its mandate as a UN peacekeeping mission,” he underlined. “Serbs in Kosovo would like to see tensions in northern Kosovo ease, as the crisis is solely favored by Pristina,” Mihajlovic said and expressed hope that Serbs in north Kosovo would not make moves which would be harmful for their survival. Northern Kosovo Serb representatives are seen at the meeting (Tanjug)

KFOR wants EULEX to be allowed through barricades

Tanjug news agency is reporting that KFOR will be able to send supplies to its troops in the north, but that the citizens will "control" the convoys.

However, a meeting with KFOR held after the joint session of municipalities "proved fruitless", Tanjug is reporting.

Zubin Potok Mayor Slaviša Ristić told journalists that KFOR are now required that freedom of movement be also provided for EULEX, which the representatives of municipalities lacked authority to do, Ristić explained.

Previously, local Serb leaders stated after the three-hour meeting that the councilors had decided not to remove the barricades completely but to let KFOR go through at the specific time and with certain number of troops.

Zvečan Mayor Dobrisav Dobrić added that their main request was to remove Priština's customs and police from the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings.

According to him, the barricades would be removed as soon as KFOR removed the customs officers and policemen from the checkpoints.

After the meeting in Zubin potok, the four mayors went to a meeting with KFOR in order to present and discuss their decision.

The session of the four northern Kosovo municipalities started a little after 11:00 CET in Zubin Potok.

Kosovska Mitrovica District Head Radenko Nedeljković and Republic of Srpska (RS) Vice President Emil Vlajki also attended the meeting.

Nedeljković said earlier on Wednesday that the northern Kosovo Serb representatives should make a rational decision and that the Serbian government had advised them not to get into conflicts with the international forces.

“I think that this is a historic moment for survival of Serbs in these parts. We have to be very wise, determined and brave at the session today and make a rational decision,” he pointed out ahead of the meeting.

He pointed out that the government, top officials and the president supported their peaceful and determined fight for their interests.

“At the same time, we got recommendations from the top state officials not to react to provocations and that we must not confront and get into conflicts with KFOR and other international institutions,” Nedeljković pointed out.

Serbian government's Media Office Chief Milivoje Mihajlović expressed earlier expectation that the Wednesday meeting of representatives of four north Kosovo municipalities would result in a decision that would contribute to stabilization of situation and resolution of crisis in this part of the province.

“This is a good chance for better communication between citizens and KFOR, which is the only one to guarantee security to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija,” Mihajlović said.

He said that further complication of the situation as well as spending time near barricades are not in the interest of Serbs, but that they would persevere in order to prevent deployment of bodies of the so-called independent state of Kosovo north of the Ibar River.

“Serbs have only one condition and that is status neutrality of KFOR, which should operate within its mandate as a UN peacekeeping mission,” he underlined.

“Serbs in Kosovo would like to see tensions in northern Kosovo ease, as the crisis is solely favored by Priština,” Mihajlović said and expressed hope that Serbs in north Kosovo would not make moves which would be harmful for their survival.