Kosovo minister: KFOR intervention wrong step

Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic stated on Wednesday that KFOR intervention and use of tear gas was "a wrong step which aggravates tensions". It creates an atmosphere of uncertainty and does not contribute to defusing the situation, said he. Kosovo minister: KFOR intervention wrong step For this reason, Bogdanovic called on KFOR to refrain from use of force and stay within the limits of their status-neutral mandate, while Serbs in northern Kosovo-Metohija should avoid responding to provocations and fight for their interests by peaceful means instead, Bogdanovic told Tanjug. The minister noted that nobody is opposed to traffic and passenger control but the way in which checks are performed triggers new tensions and new problems. He expressed belief that an exit from and a solution to the existing situation with regard to administrative crossings Jarinje and Brnjak can and has to be found through dialogue only, and added that a sustainable solution for the crossings cannot be imposed by force. He once more called on international missions to respect the specific nature and sensitivity of the situation in the north and invited northern Kosovo Serbs to remain consistent in the search for a solution through a dialogue. The dialogue, in this and any other situation, has no alternative, the minister underscored. He added that Belgrade is ready to continue the talks in Brussels because Serbian authorities believe that only the dialogue can render a solution to the existing problems in northern Kosovo-Metohija. The date when the dialogue would be re-opened does not depend solely on us, it also depends on the international community, but for our part, we are ready and we have certain ideas as to how the problem of Jarinje and Brnjak can be resolved, Bogdanovic said. The state secretary in Bogdanovic's ministry, Oliver Ivanovic, said earlier today that although NATO troops closed one of the so-called alternative roads between northern Kosovo and central Serbia, "this will not prevent the Serbs from building another alternative road". The locals have already started building a new barricade near the checkpoint. KFOR members took over the old barricade near Jarinje with the help of tear gas early on Wednesday and are currently controlling the area. KFOR soldiers exited their camp near the town of Leposavic afterwards, using several vehicles, and are positioned on the main road to Kosovska Mitrovica. Serbs building a new barricade near Jarinje (Tanjug) Non-lethal KFOR issued a statement on Wednesday, saying its troops had set up "a new vehicle checkpoint south of Gate 1", near the Jarinje administrative crossing in northern Kosovo. KFOR also confirmed that "non-lethal gas was used" early this morningy against people who were guarding a barricade near the checkpoints. According to the release, KFOR put up the new checkpoint "as support to EULEX in order to prevent vehicles from using alternative routes", and also has blocked the bypass around "Gate 1", i.e., Jarinje.

Kosovo minister: KFOR intervention wrong step

For this reason, Bogdanović called on KFOR to refrain from use of force and stay within the limits of their status-neutral mandate, while Serbs in northern Kosovo-Metohija should avoid responding to provocations and fight for their interests by peaceful means instead, Bogdanović told Tanjug.

The minister noted that nobody is opposed to traffic and passenger control but the way in which checks are performed triggers new tensions and new problems.

He expressed belief that an exit from and a solution to the existing situation with regard to administrative crossings Jarinje and Brnjak can and has to be found through dialogue only, and added that a sustainable solution for the crossings cannot be imposed by force.

He once more called on international missions to respect the specific nature and sensitivity of the situation in the north and invited northern Kosovo Serbs to remain consistent in the search for a solution through a dialogue.

The dialogue, in this and any other situation, has no alternative, the minister underscored.

He added that Belgrade is ready to continue the talks in Brussels because Serbian authorities believe that only the dialogue can render a solution to the existing problems in northern Kosovo-Metohija.

The date when the dialogue would be re-opened does not depend solely on us, it also depends on the international community, but for our part, we are ready and we have certain ideas as to how the problem of Jarinje and Brnjak can be resolved, Bogdanović said.

The state secretary in Bogdanović's ministry, Oliver Ivanović, said earlier today that although NATO troops closed one of the so-called alternative roads between northern Kosovo and central Serbia, "this will not prevent the Serbs from building another alternative road".

The locals have already started building a new barricade near the checkpoint.

KFOR members took over the old barricade near Jarinje with the help of tear gas early on Wednesday and are currently controlling the area.

KFOR soldiers exited their camp near the town of Leposavić afterwards, using several vehicles, and are positioned on the main road to Kosovska Mitrovica.

Non-lethal

KFOR issued a statement on Wednesday, saying its troops had set up "a new vehicle checkpoint south of Gate 1", near the Jarinje administrative crossing in northern Kosovo.

KFOR also confirmed that "non-lethal gas was used" early this morningy against people who were guarding a barricade near the checkpoints.

According to the release, KFOR put up the new checkpoint "as support to EULEX in order to prevent vehicles from using alternative routes", and also has blocked the bypass around "Gate 1", i.e., Jarinje.