KFOR commander's statements "worrying"

A Serb mayor in northern Kosovo on Friday commented on a statement made by KFOR commander Erhard Drews, who warned about "a possible escalation of violence". The German general who commands NATO's troops in Kosovo commented on the situation in the northern part of the province in an interview reported on Thursday. KFOR commander's statements "worrying" Today, Zvecan Mayor Dragisa Misovic told KiM Radio in Caglavica that "KFOR does as Pristina (K. Albanian authorities) decide", while Serbs in the north - where they are a majority rejecting the authority of the government in Pristina - "will not deteriorate the security or aggravate the already difficult situation". For the past several months, local Serbs have been putting up barricades blocking the roads leading to the administrative line crossings between central Serbia and Kosovo, after the Pristina authorities tried to install their customs and police at the checkpoints. Local Serbs and official Belgrade also reject the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, made by ethnic Albanians in early 2008. Mayor Milovic said on Friday that he believed Drew's statement meant that "obviously these announcements are coming from Pristina": "As he himself has said, Pristina is getting increasingly nervous, but we expect him and all KFOR officials to act in line with their mandate and in line with (UNSC) Resolution 1244, in maintaining the stability and security of all people who live in Kosovo and Metohija." According to the mayor, claims that the barricades were limiting KFOR's ability to move freely were "not true". "KFOR enjoys full freedom of movement, and we have agreed with their representatives that there must not be any unilateral moves. On the other hand, we receive the answer in the form of an attempt to use force to remove the barricade in Dudin Krs," Milovic said, referring to the incident at one of the road blocks, that took place earlier this week.

KFOR commander's statements "worrying"

Today, Zvečan Mayor Dragiša Mišović told KiM Radio in Čaglavica that "KFOR does as Priština (K. Albanian authorities) decide", while Serbs in the north - where they are a majority rejecting the authority of the government in Priština - "will not deteriorate the security or aggravate the already difficult situation".

For the past several months, local Serbs have been putting up barricades blocking the roads leading to the administrative line crossings between central Serbia and Kosovo, after the Priština authorities tried to install their customs and police at the checkpoints. Local Serbs and official Belgrade also reject the unilateral proclamation of independence of Kosovo, made by ethnic Albanians in early 2008.

Mayor Milović said on Friday that he believed Drew's statement meant that "obviously these announcements are coming from Priština":

"As he himself has said, Priština is getting increasingly nervous, but we expect him and all KFOR officials to act in line with their mandate and in line with (UNSC) Resolution 1244, in maintaining the stability and security of all people who live in Kosovo and Metohija."

According to the mayor, claims that the barricades were limiting KFOR's ability to move freely were "not true".

"KFOR enjoys full freedom of movement, and we have agreed with their representatives that there must not be any unilateral moves. On the other hand, we receive the answer in the form of an attempt to use force to remove the barricade in Dudin Krš," Milović said, referring to the incident at one of the road blocks, that took place earlier this week.