Belgrade team chief: Crisis in north Kosovo is over

Belgrade team head Borislav Stefanovic has stated that the crisis in north Kosovo is over. He stressed that it was unacceptable to allow Pristina to establish its institutions in the north, or to have the state of Serbia ousted from Kosovo. Belgrade team chief: Crisis in north Kosovo is over “The crisis is over, and we are about to enter the dialogue in Brussels. We believe that we will be able to resolve the problem of customs seals, although this issue is not connected to the issue of administrative crossings. This is our red line. We cannot allow Pristina to establish its institutions in the north, or to have the state of Serbia ousted from Kosovo and Metohija,” he told daily Blic. The team chief said that the unity of the Serb municipalities in north Kosovo was necessary and that it was not good that the session of the municipal assemblies was suspended but added that this should not be overdramatized since the agreement with KFOR would be implemented. “The state cannot act without citizens or vice versa. However, the suspension of (the session) should not be overdramatized. The agreement will be implemented. The municipal presidents requested, without our intervention, to hold a session and decide on the implementation of the agreement, not on the agreement itself,” he was quoted as saying. Stefanovic noted that this was not necessary and that the removal of barricades had begun following the decision of crisis staffs. “This agreement is not ideal and the Serbs in north Kosovo do not accept the ban on flow of goods over three and a half tons, but this was the only solution to avoid attacks on Serbs and possible victims,” he explained. Stefanovic stated that it would not be easy to restore the situation to the conditions prior to setting fire on the Jarinje administrative crossing and the seizure of the Brnjak crossing by special Kosovo police unit ROSU. “We have bought time and got guarantees from international community that there will be no new unilateral moves by Pristina trying to change the situation in the field,” he said, adding that Serbia did not get everything it wanted. “Serbs in north Kosovo have every right to be distrustful and vigilant. If anyone violates the agreement, the barricades will be returned. The agreement legitimizes Serbia's sovereignty in Kosovo and Metohija given that it was reached with the state of Serbia rather than with local bodies. In addition, the agreement restrains Pristina, since the international community is the guarantor and KFOR is responsible for the crossings,” he concluded. Borislav Stefanovic

Belgrade team chief: Crisis in north Kosovo is over

“The crisis is over, and we are about to enter the dialogue in Brussels. We believe that we will be able to resolve the problem of customs seals, although this issue is not connected to the issue of administrative crossings. This is our red line. We cannot allow Priština to establish its institutions in the north, or to have the state of Serbia ousted from Kosovo and Metohija,” he told daily Blic.

The team chief said that the unity of the Serb municipalities in north Kosovo was necessary and that it was not good that the session of the municipal assemblies was suspended but added that this should not be overdramatized since the agreement with KFOR would be implemented.

“The state cannot act without citizens or vice versa. However, the suspension of (the session) should not be overdramatized. The agreement will be implemented. The municipal presidents requested, without our intervention, to hold a session and decide on the implementation of the agreement, not on the agreement itself,” he was quoted as saying.

Stefanović noted that this was not necessary and that the removal of barricades had begun following the decision of crisis staffs.

“This agreement is not ideal and the Serbs in north Kosovo do not accept the ban on flow of goods over three and a half tons, but this was the only solution to avoid attacks on Serbs and possible victims,” he explained.

Stefanović stated that it would not be easy to restore the situation to the conditions prior to setting fire on the Jarinje administrative crossing and the seizure of the Brnjak crossing by special Kosovo police unit ROSU.

“We have bought time and got guarantees from international community that there will be no new unilateral moves by Priština trying to change the situation in the field,” he said, adding that Serbia did not get everything it wanted.

“Serbs in north Kosovo have every right to be distrustful and vigilant. If anyone violates the agreement, the barricades will be returned. The agreement legitimizes Serbia's sovereignty in Kosovo and Metohija given that it was reached with the state of Serbia rather than with local bodies. In addition, the agreement restrains Priština, since the international community is the guarantor and KFOR is responsible for the crossings,” he concluded.