Defense minister on media speculation about clash

Defense Minister Dragan Sutanovac says a solution for Kosovo must be found exclusively through talks, not conflict. He also addressed "media stories" regarding a clash between KFOR and Serbs in northern Kosovo last month. Defense minister on media speculation about clash He says the articles in some media, quoting a closed session of a parliamentary committee, "did not always correspond to the truth". "During the 1999 war, Serbia lost territorial sovereignty over Kosovo and Metohija, but its people are still there, and their security and survival must be ensured," he said. "We need to find solutions exclusively through talks, not conflict. This is the only way for Serbs to stay there," Sutanovac said. He said that the recent meeting of the Security Committee of the Serbian parliament was "very good" and that what was later reported about the situation on the administrative crossing Jarinje did not always correspond to the truth about the events there. The truth was neither black nor white, Sutanovac asserted. Earlier today, Tanjug reported that Sutanovac said competent services presented an objective portrayal of the September 27 developments on Jarinje administrative crossing during the meeting of the Serbian parliament's Defense and Security Committee, but he also added that he is not authorized to reveal the details discussed at the session. Sutanovac noted that "this image does not point to tangible guilt of either side but rather shows that it lies somewhere in the middle". The committee had a closed meeting on Jarinje and the details from the meeting leaked out because leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement Vuk Draskovic revealed what he said was information from the meeting, although he did not attend. According to Draskovic, the committee was presented with information and videos taken by Serbian intelligence services according to which the incident at Jarinje was caused by a well-organized armed group of Serbs, while local citizens appeared later on. Committee members had to sign a statement that they would not publish the data discussed at the sitting because this issue was declared top government secret. "No one is protected" Justice Minister Snezana Malovic said on Thursday that Zvonko Veselinovic, a man from Kosovska Mitrovica suspected of being behind a group of around twenty men who clashed with KFOR at the Jarinje checkpoint, would not be protected if the police found evidence against him. "No one is protected, not even Zvonko Veselinovic. It is now a matter of collecting evidence in order to get to a trial, and I am certain our authorities - the police, prosecutors and courts - are capable of completing that task," she told reporters. According to the minister, those responsible will be tried if the authorities find enough evidence against them. Some of the media in Belgrade have stated that Veselinovic is the most important figure in northern Kosovo when it comes to petrol and cigarettes smuggling and that he led a group of about 20 men against KFOR at the Jarinje checkpoint.

Defense minister on media speculation about clash

He says the articles in some media, quoting a closed session of a parliamentary committee, "did not always correspond to the truth".

"During the 1999 war, Serbia lost territorial sovereignty over Kosovo and Metohija, but its people are still there, and their security and survival must be ensured," he said.

"We need to find solutions exclusively through talks, not conflict. This is the only way for Serbs to stay there," Šutanovac said.

He said that the recent meeting of the Security Committee of the Serbian parliament was "very good" and that what was later reported about the situation on the administrative crossing Jarinje did not always correspond to the truth about the events there.

The truth was neither black nor white, Šutanovac asserted.

Earlier today, Tanjug reported that Šutanovac said competent services presented an objective portrayal of the September 27 developments on Jarinje administrative crossing during the meeting of the Serbian parliament's Defense and Security Committee, but he also added that he is not authorized to reveal the details discussed at the session.

Šutanovac noted that "this image does not point to tangible guilt of either side but rather shows that it lies somewhere in the middle".

The committee had a closed meeting on Jarinje and the details from the meeting leaked out because leader of the Serbian Renewal Movement Vuk Drašković revealed what he said was information from the meeting, although he did not attend.

According to Drašković, the committee was presented with information and videos taken by Serbian intelligence services according to which the incident at Jarinje was caused by a well-organized armed group of Serbs, while local citizens appeared later on.

Committee members had to sign a statement that they would not publish the data discussed at the sitting because this issue was declared top government secret.

"No one is protected"

Justice Minister Snežana Malović said on Thursday that Zvonko Veselinović, a man from Kosovska Mitrovica suspected of being behind a group of around twenty men who clashed with KFOR at the Jarinje checkpoint, would not be protected if the police found evidence against him.

"No one is protected, not even Zvonko Veselinović. It is now a matter of collecting evidence in order to get to a trial, and I am certain our authorities - the police, prosecutors and courts - are capable of completing that task," she told reporters.

According to the minister, those responsible will be tried if the authorities find enough evidence against them.

Some of the media in Belgrade have stated that Veselinović is the most important figure in northern Kosovo when it comes to petrol and cigarettes smuggling and that he led a group of about 20 men against KFOR at the Jarinje checkpoint.