KFOR commander warns against possible unrest

KFOR Commander General Erhard Drews has warned that conflicts could arise if Albanian nationalists should feel provoked by the referendum in northern Kosovo.

Izvor: Tanjug

Sunday, 12.02.2012.

11:10

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KFOR Commander General Erhard Drews has warned that conflicts could arise if Albanian nationalists should feel provoked by the referendum in northern Kosovo. He added that any potential incidents should be prevented. KFOR commander warns against possible unrest “There will certainly be certain expressions of dissatisfaction, and the referendum does not suit many people,” Drews told German Focus Magazine. Estimating that as many as 98 percent of Serbs would vote “no” at the forthcoming referendum as regards acceptance of Kosovo institutions, the German general warned that certain conflicts with the Serb minority in the south could arise in case Albanian nationalists felt provoked. “This needs to be prevented by all available means,” he stressed. When asked whether Serbia still has control over Kosovo Serbs since the referendum is blocking the long-awaited EU candidate status, Drews stated that Belgrade was still providing considerable financial assistance to the northern Kosovo public life and that Belgrade had an influence over northern Kosovo representatives. “However, interests of northern Kosovo Serbs do not coincide with Belgrade's interests any longer,” he said and added that compromises Belgrade was making did not suit northern Kosovo Serbs, having in mind the EU stand. When asked whether the background of the conflict was more political or criminal, the KFOR commander replied that both were present. “Both sides are present,” he said and added that there were strong political forces which wanted to see the area stay within Serbia, but at the same time, the local population feared that if the EU and the Kosovo police took over the border control, they would lose their revenue sources, that is, the funds from Belgrade and the money obtained by smuggling. Erhard Drews Tanjug

KFOR commander warns against possible unrest

“There will certainly be certain expressions of dissatisfaction, and the referendum does not suit many people,” Drews told German Focus Magazine.

Estimating that as many as 98 percent of Serbs would vote “no” at the forthcoming referendum as regards acceptance of Kosovo institutions, the German general warned that certain conflicts with the Serb minority in the south could arise in case Albanian nationalists felt provoked.

“This needs to be prevented by all available means,” he stressed.

When asked whether Serbia still has control over Kosovo Serbs since the referendum is blocking the long-awaited EU candidate status, Drews stated that Belgrade was still providing considerable financial assistance to the northern Kosovo public life and that Belgrade had an influence over northern Kosovo representatives.

“However, interests of northern Kosovo Serbs do not coincide with Belgrade's interests any longer,” he said and added that compromises Belgrade was making did not suit northern Kosovo Serbs, having in mind the EU stand. When asked whether the background of the conflict was more political or criminal, the KFOR commander replied that both were present.

“Both sides are present,” he said and added that there were strong political forces which wanted to see the area stay within Serbia, but at the same time, the local population feared that if the EU and the Kosovo police took over the border control, they would lose their revenue sources, that is, the funds from Belgrade and the money obtained by smuggling.

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