Dačić: No state of emergency in south

Interior Minister Ivica Dacic says there are "no signs of a state of emergency" in southern Serbia. He said that the Serbian police (MUP) elite force, the Gendarmerie (Zandarmerija), did raise its level of alert in that part of the country. Dacic: No state of emergency in south According to him, Gendarmes cannot withdraw from the area – something demanded by local ethnic Albanian leaders – while there are dangers and risks there. Dacic emphasized that police are acting strictly within their powers, that "Serbia was in the past accused mostly of use of excessive force", and that "the same mistake will not be allowed to repeat". The minister said that the Gendarmerie's operations in the south so far were conducted in line with the law, that "international security services were informed about them", and that they were videotaped. Dacic once again called on the leaders of the ethnic Albanian community and municipal representatives in the region, known as the Presevo Valley, to work with police in order to maintain peace and public order, and fight crime and corruption. The area, close to the administrative line with Kosovo, and home to the largest Albanian community in the country outside of the province itself, has recently seen two incidents when Gendarmes were attacked, and a bomb was planted in front of a residential building. Also on Monday, Dacic called on the Presevo and Bujanovac municipal presidents to cooperate in the fight against crime and terrorism in southern Serbia. "There is no way we will respond to provocation, be it terrorist, with excessive force. Precisely because this is a politically troubling subject we wish for agreement and cooperation," said he. What matters, he continued, is not whether someone is Albanian or Serb, but fighting crime and terrorism. The minister also said he was prepared to engage in dialogue with ethnic Albanians in the region. Dacic stated that investigations into the recent incidents are ongoing and that all information related to the probes will be forwarded to the Bujanovac and Presevo municipal chiefs. Ethnic Albanians have asked for negotiations with the government in order to solve what they described as mounting issues, at the same time, according to Beta news agency, accusing police of "attacks" and ignoring of legitimate local government organs and institutions. Dacic is seen in Presevo last week (Tanjug)

Dačić: No state of emergency in south

According to him, Gendarmes cannot withdraw from the area – something demanded by local ethnic Albanian leaders – while there are dangers and risks there.

Dačić emphasized that police are acting strictly within their powers, that "Serbia was in the past accused mostly of use of excessive force", and that "the same mistake will not be allowed to repeat".

The minister said that the Gendarmerie's operations in the south so far were conducted in line with the law, that "international security services were informed about them", and that they were videotaped.

Dačić once again called on the leaders of the ethnic Albanian community and municipal representatives in the region, known as the Preševo Valley, to work with police in order to maintain peace and public order, and fight crime and corruption.

The area, close to the administrative line with Kosovo, and home to the largest Albanian community in the country outside of the province itself, has recently seen two incidents when Gendarmes were attacked, and a bomb was planted in front of a residential building.

Also on Monday, Dačić called on the Preševo and Bujanovac municipal presidents to cooperate in the fight against crime and terrorism in southern Serbia.

"There is no way we will respond to provocation, be it terrorist, with excessive force. Precisely because this is a politically troubling subject we wish for agreement and cooperation," said he.

What matters, he continued, is not whether someone is Albanian or Serb, but fighting crime and terrorism. The minister also said he was prepared to engage in dialogue with ethnic Albanians in the region.

Dačić stated that investigations into the recent incidents are ongoing and that all information related to the probes will be forwarded to the Bujanovac and Preševo municipal chiefs.

Ethnic Albanians have asked for negotiations with the government in order to solve what they described as mounting issues, at the same time, according to Beta news agency, accusing police of "attacks" and ignoring of legitimate local government organs and institutions.