Tzar Lazar Guard drops Kosovo rally

The self-styled Guard of Tzar Lazar has decided against holding what it called a peace rally in Kosovska Mitrovica. Instead, the members of the obscure Serbian group advocating radical approach to the ongoing Kosovo status crisis, said they would take their protest to Rudare on the administrative boundary with Kosovo, "to demonstrate their willingness to go to war for Kosovo." Tzar Lazar Guard drops Kosovo rally The group that is headed toward the boundary consists of ten persons wearing uniforms and 20 more youths in civilian clothes. Earlier, they announced that they will ask NATO and UNMIK to either stop and check uniformed individuals and the Albanian National Army (ANA), or withdraw altogether from Kosovo. “At this moment in time, their arrival would jeopardize the safety of Serbs in Kosovo. The appearance of a Serbian Guard within UNMIK and Kosovo institutions would serve to encourage the activities of terrorists, by showing that para-military formations were present not only among the Albanians but the Serbs too,” said President of the Serbian National Council Milan Ivanovic said in reaction. “We’re coming to Kosovo in civvies without guns, bombs or tanks, and I don’t see why anyone would stop us holding a rally in Kosovska Mitrovica,” said Hadzi Andrej Milic, “commander” of the so-called Tzar Lazar Guard. “We won’t be coming in an organized group or wearing insignia, everyone will be coming independently, some people by coach, some by car,” explained Milic. UNMIK and KFOR announced that members of the Guard, who have been declared a para-military formation, would not be permitted to legally enter Kosovo. “Their arrival would compromise the security situation and it’s up to us to stop them putting on any public demonstration,” UNMIK and KFOR told B92. “Tzar Lazar Guard is provocation” Kosovo officials have condemned today’s Tzar Lazar Guard rally in Kosovska Mitrovica, viewing it as provocation. Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said that the Tzar Lazar Guard should be denied entry to Kosovo. “My opinion is the same as that of the security organs in Kosovo that the Guard shouldn’t be allowed to enter,” said Sejdiu, prior to leaving for Brussels for the next round of Troika-mediated talks between Belgrade and Pristina. Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said that “every criminal that tries to enter Kosovo presents a threat,” although he was certain that KFOR and the police would be able to handle them. “They’re criminals. They haven’t been invited, and will be treated as such,” said Ceku. Kosovo Police Service (KPS) Deputy Commander for the Mitrovica Region Sherif Hajra said that the KPS and KFOR had taken all the necessary measures to prevent any possible incidents. “Stringent legal measures will be taken against those who we identify as being members of this illegal organization,” said Hajra, after a meeting in Mitrovica. In Pristina, KPS spokesman Veton Elshani said that the police would react in line with the law and according to the situation on the ground.

Tzar Lazar Guard drops Kosovo rally

The group that is headed toward the boundary consists of ten persons wearing uniforms and 20 more youths in civilian clothes.

Earlier, they announced that they will ask NATO and UNMIK to either stop and check uniformed individuals and the Albanian National Army (ANA), or withdraw altogether from Kosovo.

“At this moment in time, their arrival would jeopardize the safety of Serbs in Kosovo. The appearance of a Serbian Guard within UNMIK and Kosovo institutions would serve to encourage the activities of terrorists, by showing that para-military formations were present not only among the Albanians but the Serbs too,” said President of the Serbian National Council Milan Ivanović said in reaction.

“We’re coming to Kosovo in civvies without guns, bombs or tanks, and I don’t see why anyone would stop us holding a rally in Kosovska Mitrovica,” said Hadži Andrej Milić, “commander” of the so-called Tzar Lazar Guard.

“We won’t be coming in an organized group or wearing insignia, everyone will be coming independently, some people by coach, some by car,” explained Milić.

UNMIK and KFOR announced that members of the Guard, who have been declared a para-military formation, would not be permitted to legally enter Kosovo.

“Their arrival would compromise the security situation and it’s up to us to stop them putting on any public demonstration,” UNMIK and KFOR told B92.

“Tzar Lazar Guard is provocation”

Kosovo officials have condemned today’s Tzar Lazar Guard rally in Kosovska Mitrovica, viewing it as provocation.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said that the Tzar Lazar Guard should be denied entry to Kosovo. “My opinion is the same as that of the security organs in Kosovo that the Guard shouldn’t be allowed to enter,” said Sejdiu, prior to leaving for Brussels for the next round of Troika-mediated talks between Belgrade and Priština.

Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said that “every criminal that tries to enter Kosovo presents a threat,” although he was certain that KFOR and the police would be able to handle them.

“They’re criminals. They haven’t been invited, and will be treated as such,” said Ceku.

Kosovo Police Service (KPS) Deputy Commander for the Mitrovica Region Sherif Hajra said that the KPS and KFOR had taken all the necessary measures to prevent any possible incidents.

“Stringent legal measures will be taken against those who we identify as being members of this illegal organization,” said Hajra, after a meeting in Mitrovica.

In Priština, KPS spokesman Veton Elshani said that the police would react in line with the law and according to the situation on the ground.