Minister: Another wrong move by KFOR

Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic called on Monday on KFOR and Serbs in Kosovo to show restraint and not resort to violence. Bogdanovic said in a statement for Tanjug that KFOR's attempt to remove the barricade in the village of Jagnjenica, situated on the road from Kosovska Mitrovica to Zubin Potok, was another wrong move which does not resolve the problem in the north, but rather deepens the divide between KFOR and Serbs in Kosovo. Minister: Another wrong move by KFOR “The use of flash bombs and rubber bullets cannot be justified in any sense,” Bogdanovic said, adding that this time as well KFOR has obviously stepped out of its mandate. He said that KFOR is trying to frighten Serbs in the north by excessive use of force, while at the same it is showing a biased approach. “It is symptomatic that KFOR tried to unilaterally remove barricades on Flag Day (Albanian national holiday), and Serbs had every right to form the impression that KFOR is backing Albanians. It is very dangerous to remove barricades by force while the dialogue is still under way and the next round is scheduled for November 30,” Bogdanovic told Tanjug. “I believe that Monday's action, which unfortunately left several people injured, leads to deepening of the gap between KFOR and Kosovo Serbs. I think that we should give a chance to the dialogue as it has no alternative. The dialogue could produce a sustainable solution which would yield results in the long run,” Bogdanovic said. He said that no one is happy that the barricades in the north have been set up and that Serbs are aware of this, but that this is the way they chose to confront Pristina's attempt to set up its institutions by force. A KFOR member is seen at Jagnjenica (Tanjug) Serbs urge KFOR to go back to starting position Local officials from northern Kosovo talked around 2:30 pm Monday with a KFOR representative, informing him they cannot control the situation if KFOR does not go back to its starting position. Kosovska Mitrovica and Zubin Potok mayors, Krstimir Pantic and Slavisa Ristic, told the KFOR representative, with whom they communicated through barbed wire, that they will not be able to control the people and will not be responsible for any incidents which could occur if KFOR does not withdraw to its original position. The KFOR representative reiterated the demand for the people to disperse so that KFOR could establish a checkpoint in Jagnjenica. The road from Zubin Potok to Zvecan, which goes through Jagnjenica, remains blocked. A large number of locals and KFOR troops are present at the scene, as are Serbia's State Secretary for Kosovo Oliver Ivanovic and Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic. "Don't react" Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dacic called on Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija on Monday to stay coolheaded and not react to provocations, stressing that all those who want conflicts have to be neutralized. Reacting to the clash between KFOR and Serbs in the village of Jagnjenica, north Kosovo, that left dozens of citizens injured, Dacic said that he "cannot believe" that someone thought of removing the barricades by force at the moment when the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has been restored. “I do not see the point of removal of barricades since that raises possibilities of conflict, while the role of KFOR is to preserve security. It looks as if someone wants to raise tensions on purpose, but Serbs should remain coolheaded and not react to provocations, as talks are the only way to resolution of problems in Kosovo-Metohija. Everything else leads to conflicts,” Dacic told journalists.

Minister: Another wrong move by KFOR

“The use of flash bombs and rubber bullets cannot be justified in any sense,” Bogdanović said, adding that this time as well KFOR has obviously stepped out of its mandate.

He said that KFOR is trying to frighten Serbs in the north by excessive use of force, while at the same it is showing a biased approach.

“It is symptomatic that KFOR tried to unilaterally remove barricades on Flag Day (Albanian national holiday), and Serbs had every right to form the impression that KFOR is backing Albanians. It is very dangerous to remove barricades by force while the dialogue is still under way and the next round is scheduled for November 30,” Bogdanović told Tanjug.

“I believe that Monday's action, which unfortunately left several people injured, leads to deepening of the gap between KFOR and Kosovo Serbs. I think that we should give a chance to the dialogue as it has no alternative. The dialogue could produce a sustainable solution which would yield results in the long run,” Bogdanović said.

He said that no one is happy that the barricades in the north have been set up and that Serbs are aware of this, but that this is the way they chose to confront Priština's attempt to set up its institutions by force.

Serbs urge KFOR to go back to starting position

Local officials from northern Kosovo talked around 2:30 pm Monday with a KFOR representative, informing him they cannot control the situation if KFOR does not go back to its starting position.

Kosovska Mitrovica and Zubin Potok mayors, Krstimir Pantić and Slaviša Ristić, told the KFOR representative, with whom they communicated through barbed wire, that they will not be able to control the people and will not be responsible for any incidents which could occur if KFOR does not withdraw to its original position.

The KFOR representative reiterated the demand for the people to disperse so that KFOR could establish a checkpoint in Jagnjenica.

The road from Zubin Potok to Zvečan, which goes through Jagnjenica, remains blocked.

A large number of locals and KFOR troops are present at the scene, as are Serbia's State Secretary for Kosovo Oliver Ivanović and Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljković.

"Don't react"

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Dačić called on Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija on Monday to stay coolheaded and not react to provocations, stressing that all those who want conflicts have to be neutralized.

Reacting to the clash between KFOR and Serbs in the village of Jagnjenica, north Kosovo, that left dozens of citizens injured, Dačić said that he "cannot believe" that someone thought of removing the barricades by force at the moment when the dialogue between Belgrade and Priština has been restored.

“I do not see the point of removal of barricades since that raises possibilities of conflict, while the role of KFOR is to preserve security. It looks as if someone wants to raise tensions on purpose, but Serbs should remain coolheaded and not react to provocations, as talks are the only way to resolution of problems in Kosovo-Metohija. Everything else leads to conflicts,” Dačić told journalists.