"Incidents criminal, nothing to do with ethnic issues"

The recent violence in northern Kosovo is of a criminal, rather than ethnic or political nature, says a KFOR commander. Michel Yakovleff, who is in charge of the troops stationed in that area, told Albanian language newspaper Koha Ditore that a string of incidents that took place in December and early January fall under the category of criminal violence, rather than hostilities between the two communities – Serbs and Albanians. "Incidents criminal, nothing to do with ethnic issues" "There are young people whom criminals use for their own ends. There is nothing inter-ethnic [about it], and everyone agrees about that," said Yakovleff. He added that the situation in the north is "mostly safe" but that there were problems in "central" Kosovska Mitrovica. "We have one flashpoint, central [Kosovska] Mitrovica, but in other places, such as Leposavic, Zubin Potok or Vucitrn there aren't that many prolems. Starting Dec. 30, we increaded the military presence in the town in order to ensure that similar events do not repeat." This KFOR commander stated that there is "very close" cooperation with EULEX in the north, and that this EU mission has KFOR's full support. Yakovleff went on to say that one of the main problems in northern Kosovo is smuggling, "especially of fuel", but that preventing it falls out of the jurisdiction of his troops. "The whole region is a paradise for smugglers, not just the north, but also the south," said he. Speaking about his relations with Serb representatives, Yakovleff said that he talks to everyone, and that it is not up to him to decide "who is, and who isn't legal". "I must deal with security issues and talk to everyone who has influence in their community. The situation between the Serbs and Albanians in the north is blocked now since there was no dialogue, and there were many prejudices and misunderstandings on both sides," he said, and added that reconciliation can come only through dialogue.

"Incidents criminal, nothing to do with ethnic issues"

"There are young people whom criminals use for their own ends. There is nothing inter-ethnic [about it], and everyone agrees about that," said Yakovleff.

He added that the situation in the north is "mostly safe" but that there were problems in "central" Kosovska Mitrovica.

"We have one flashpoint, central [Kosovska] Mitrovica, but in other places, such as Leposavić, Zubin Potok or Vučitrn there aren't that many prolems. Starting Dec. 30, we increaded the military presence in the town in order to ensure that similar events do not repeat."

This KFOR commander stated that there is "very close" cooperation with EULEX in the north, and that this EU mission has KFOR's full support.

Yakovleff went on to say that one of the main problems in northern Kosovo is smuggling, "especially of fuel", but that preventing it falls out of the jurisdiction of his troops.

"The whole region is a paradise for smugglers, not just the north, but also the south," said he.

Speaking about his relations with Serb representatives, Yakovleff said that he talks to everyone, and that it is not up to him to decide "who is, and who isn't legal".

"I must deal with security issues and talk to everyone who has influence in their community. The situation between the Serbs and Albanians in the north is blocked now since there was no dialogue, and there were many prejudices and misunderstandings on both sides," he said, and added that reconciliation can come only through dialogue.