Officials praise K. Serbs for peaceful resistance

Borislav Stefanovic said late on Sunday in Leposavic, northern Kosovo, that talks about the status of administrative crossings there would continue today. The leader of the Belgrade team in the Brussels-held Kosovo dialogue, who spent the past week in the province, told some 300 local Serbs gathered to hear him that "by solving this crisis, the Kosovo problem can be solved". Officials praise K. Serbs for peaceful resistance "With the (re)opening of Brnjak and Jarinje we have made an important step that will allow us to progress into the talks in an easier manner, to reach a solution that will be more lasting," said he. Further talks about the status of administrative checkpoints will follow, Stefanovic stated, as well as "who will be posted there and how they will function". A week ago the Kosovo Albanian government sparked the crisis by sending police units to take over the checkpoints and enforce a ban on entry of Serbian goods. Local Serbs responded by peacefully blocking roads that lead to the outposts. Stefanovic said in Leposavic that the issue of the checkpoints was "not simple", and that it would be discussed with EU mediator Robert Cooper, as well as KFOR commander Erhard Buehler. He also said the German general "showed professionalism and understood that conflict is the worst option". Stefanovic told the gathered Serbs that "top state officials and the president" were proud of them, because there were no incidents after the "terrible incident at Jarinje". The post was demolished last week. "I really must say you are heroes, because you are showing your legitimate right to fight for your interests without endangering anyone, in a democratic and peaceful, European manner." Serbs in the north, he continued, deserve all praise and support, and stressed the people of Serbia "truly stand with them". "We all stand as one because we want to resolve this crisis in a peaceful manner, without any incidents. By solving this crisis, we will be able to solve the Kosovo problem, this is a precondition, because someone thought they would attempt to change the ethnic structure in this area by taking over the crossings," said Stefanovic, according to Beta news agency. But he further noted that it was "not normal for those who refer to European principles and abolishment of borders to set up borders with barbed wire and armed soldiers", criticizing the fact that despite "everyone being in favor of dialogue" - those who should conduct the dialogue were prevented from entering Kosovo. Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanovic also addressed the citizens in Leposavic, saying he and Stefanovic managed to reach them last night despite obstacles in their way in order to "support them and thank them for being persistent, peaceful, and fighting for our interests in a Ghandi-like manner". (Tanjug)

Officials praise K. Serbs for peaceful resistance

"With the (re)opening of Brnjak and Jarinje we have made an important step that will allow us to progress into the talks in an easier manner, to reach a solution that will be more lasting," said he.

Further talks about the status of administrative checkpoints will follow, Stefanović stated, as well as "who will be posted there and how they will function".

A week ago the Kosovo Albanian government sparked the crisis by sending police units to take over the checkpoints and enforce a ban on entry of Serbian goods.

Local Serbs responded by peacefully blocking roads that lead to the outposts.

Stefanović said in Leposavić that the issue of the checkpoints was "not simple", and that it would be discussed with EU mediator Robert Cooper, as well as KFOR commander Erhard Buehler.

He also said the German general "showed professionalism and understood that conflict is the worst option".

Stefanović told the gathered Serbs that "top state officials and the president" were proud of them, because there were no incidents after the "terrible incident at Jarinje".

The post was demolished last week.

"I really must say you are heroes, because you are showing your legitimate right to fight for your interests without endangering anyone, in a democratic and peaceful, European manner."

Serbs in the north, he continued, deserve all praise and support, and stressed the people of Serbia "truly stand with them".

"We all stand as one because we want to resolve this crisis in a peaceful manner, without any incidents. By solving this crisis, we will be able to solve the Kosovo problem, this is a precondition, because someone thought they would attempt to change the ethnic structure in this area by taking over the crossings," said Stefanović, according to Beta news agency.

But he further noted that it was "not normal for those who refer to European principles and abolishment of borders to set up borders with barbed wire and armed soldiers", criticizing the fact that despite "everyone being in favor of dialogue" - those who should conduct the dialogue were prevented from entering Kosovo.

Kosovo Minister Goran Bogdanović also addressed the citizens in Leposavić, saying he and Stefanović managed to reach them last night despite obstacles in their way in order to "support them and thank them for being persistent, peaceful, and fighting for our interests in a Ghandi-like manner".