Russian aid convoy "discussed at EU-Russia summit"

Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin says the detainment of the Russian humanitarian aid convoy is being discussed in Brussels. Speaking on Wednesday at the Jarinje administrative checkpoint between central Serbia and Kosovo, Konuzin said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is taking part in the EU-Russia summit, during which the situation related to detainment of the convoy at Jarinje will be "one of the priority topics" of his talks. Russian aid convoy "discussed at EU-Russia summit" The issue is being discussed in Brussels, the Russian ambassador said, adding that the Russian representative to the EU is in constant contact with the Union's representatives and that they are working on resolving the issue. Konuzin said that he spoke about the aid convoy delay twice with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoygu, who requested from him to stay with the convoy. "I do not want to make any prediction as to when the issue might be resolved. The situation is surreal. We have a humanitarian aid convoy here, and the EU first allowed the passage, and then block it out of political reasons," he said. Konuzin said that as regards the Russian humanitarian aid convoy, an artificial political problem has been created, and ultimatums are being delivered. "Since the problem has acquired a political dimension, it must be resolved at the political level. I do not want to make any prediction as to how and when the issue might be resolved," said Konuzin, who had been at the Jarinje administrative crossing since Tuesday morning when few out of two dozen trucks drove past the checkpoint. Asked whether the EULEX escort was first requested and then canceled, Konuzin said that he on Tuesday told EULEX chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac that the EU mission's escort was not needed. "I told him to order EULEX to continue with the formalities related to the passage of the convoy carrying humanitarian aid. Once we realized there would be abuse of the procedure, we said such services were not necessary. Everyone understands that the issue here is not the Russian humanitarian aid, but an intent to install Pristina's customs and police at the Jarinje post," said the diplomat. He added that a second convoy was on Wednesday traveling toward the town of Nis, where cargo would be unloaded due to insufficient storage space in Kosovo. "The aid will be stored in Nis and will be delivered to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija through the Red Cross," stated the ambassador. Asked whether the first convoy that has been blocked will now use "alternative roads" to enter the province, Konuzin replied that Russians were not looking for alternative roads, because the one they were using was agreed on by the Serb side. "Everything would have been alright had there not been for the interference of a third party, which is getting in the way of both Russians and Serbs, instead of doing its job and making sure that the agreement between the Russian and the Serb side is implemented," he said, and added: "It turns out that the EU rule of law mission (EULEX) is itself breaking European laws. We have been here for a day and a half, and from my encounters with Serbs, I see they consider this mission to be pro-Pristina, having abandoned its neutral status. That's the position of Serbs who live in Kosovo and Metohija, and I completely agree with this position." The ambassador also commented on a statement made by Pieter Feith - a former EU representative in Kosovo who now heads the International Civilian Office (ICO) - that he "did not understand why Konuzin would travel to the north of Kosovo in the first place, when there is a Russian diplomatic representative in Pristina who covers Kosovo," as well as that "the rules must be respected". "I am the ambassador of the Russian Federation in Serbia, my jurisdiction covers the entire territory of Serbia, and that includes the province of Kosovo. There is an office in Pristina of the Russian embassy in Belgrade, whose diplomats are subordinate to me. When I perform my ambassadorial duties I travel the whole country, and I regularly go to Kosovo," he concluded. Aleksandr Konuzin is seen at Jarinje on Wednesday (Tanjug) "Violation of rules" The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry wants the operation for providing aid to Kosovo Serbs to be completed as soon as possible, director of the ministry's international activity department Yuri Brazhnikov told Russia 24 TV on Wednesday. We believe that Russian aid will be intensive and fully meet the needs of Kosovo Serbs. We want this operation to be over as soon as possible, Brazhnikov stressed. In addition, he said the problem for transit of the Russian truck convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo has not been solved yet and this violates humanitarian law. The problem of allowing transit of the Russian truck convoy with humanitarian aid to be delivered to Kosovo Serbs has not been solved yet, he said. It is still unclear when it will be solved. We have not received an official response, Brazhnikov said. In the morning, no steps were made, he added. Brazhnikov recalled that on Tuesday, the first column, including 25 trucks, had arrived at the Jarinje checkpoint in order to go farther to Kosovska Mitrovica. Three trucks have been checked. Two trucks have been stopped with a reference to a decision of the EU mission. This is unacceptable for the Russian Federation. On the contrary, this violates the elementary customs rules because truckload shipment is torn apart, he said. He stressed that Russia wants humanitarian right not be violated and necessary aid to be provided to those in need. The official said Kosovo Serbs need foodstuffs, clothes and power stations because electric power outages had been reported. At the same time, Brazhnikov said the ministry had not completed its mission. Serbia has also asked for medical equipment supplies. This aid will be delivered by air and then by trucks to Kosovo's Red Cross, he added. The second Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs is now coming to the Romanian-Serbian border, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's press service said. At 2:30 p.m. Moscow time the Russian convoy began moving to the Romanian-Serbian border from the Romanian city of Bistrica, an official of the ministry said. The convoy is carrying diesel power stations, heaters, camp-furniture, and household heating devices, bed-clothes and foodstuffs. The total weight reaches 160 tonnes. However, Russia's first humanitarian convoy remains blocked on the dividing line between central Serbia and Kosovo by the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) that refuses to let pass the Emergencies Ministry's convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Kosovo Serbs.

Russian aid convoy "discussed at EU-Russia summit"

The issue is being discussed in Brussels, the Russian ambassador said, adding that the Russian representative to the EU is in constant contact with the Union's representatives and that they are working on resolving the issue.

Konuzin said that he spoke about the aid convoy delay twice with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoygu, who requested from him to stay with the convoy.

"I do not want to make any prediction as to when the issue might be resolved. The situation is surreal. We have a humanitarian aid convoy here, and the EU first allowed the passage, and then block it out of political reasons," he said.

Konuzin said that as regards the Russian humanitarian aid convoy, an artificial political problem has been created, and ultimatums are being delivered.

"Since the problem has acquired a political dimension, it must be resolved at the political level. I do not want to make any prediction as to how and when the issue might be resolved," said Konuzin, who had been at the Jarinje administrative crossing since Tuesday morning when few out of two dozen trucks drove past the checkpoint.

Asked whether the EULEX escort was first requested and then canceled, Konuzin said that he on Tuesday told EULEX chief Xavier Bout de Marnhac that the EU mission's escort was not needed.

"I told him to order EULEX to continue with the formalities related to the passage of the convoy carrying humanitarian aid. Once we realized there would be abuse of the procedure, we said such services were not necessary. Everyone understands that the issue here is not the Russian humanitarian aid, but an intent to install Priština's customs and police at the Jarinje post," said the diplomat.

He added that a second convoy was on Wednesday traveling toward the town of Niš, where cargo would be unloaded due to insufficient storage space in Kosovo.

"The aid will be stored in Niš and will be delivered to Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija through the Red Cross," stated the ambassador.

Asked whether the first convoy that has been blocked will now use "alternative roads" to enter the province, Konuzin replied that Russians were not looking for alternative roads, because the one they were using was agreed on by the Serb side.

"Everything would have been alright had there not been for the interference of a third party, which is getting in the way of both Russians and Serbs, instead of doing its job and making sure that the agreement between the Russian and the Serb side is implemented," he said, and added:

"It turns out that the EU rule of law mission (EULEX) is itself breaking European laws. We have been here for a day and a half, and from my encounters with Serbs, I see they consider this mission to be pro-Priština, having abandoned its neutral status. That's the position of Serbs who live in Kosovo and Metohija, and I completely agree with this position."

The ambassador also commented on a statement made by Pieter Feith - a former EU representative in Kosovo who now heads the International Civilian Office (ICO) - that he "did not understand why Konuzin would travel to the north of Kosovo in the first place, when there is a Russian diplomatic representative in Priština who covers Kosovo," as well as that "the rules must be respected".

"I am the ambassador of the Russian Federation in Serbia, my jurisdiction covers the entire territory of Serbia, and that includes the province of Kosovo. There is an office in Priština of the Russian embassy in Belgrade, whose diplomats are subordinate to me. When I perform my ambassadorial duties I travel the whole country, and I regularly go to Kosovo," he concluded.

"Violation of rules"

The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry wants the operation for providing aid to Kosovo Serbs to be completed as soon as possible, director of the ministry's international activity department Yuri Brazhnikov told Russia 24 TV on Wednesday.

We believe that Russian aid will be intensive and fully meet the needs of Kosovo Serbs. We want this operation to be over as soon as possible, Brazhnikov stressed.

In addition, he said the problem for transit of the Russian truck convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo has not been solved yet and this violates humanitarian law.

The problem of allowing transit of the Russian truck convoy with humanitarian aid to be delivered to Kosovo Serbs has not been solved yet, he said.

It is still unclear when it will be solved. We have not received an official response, Brazhnikov said.

In the morning, no steps were made, he added.

Brazhnikov recalled that on Tuesday, the first column, including 25 trucks, had arrived at the Jarinje checkpoint in order to go farther to Kosovska Mitrovica. Three trucks have been checked. Two trucks have been stopped with a reference to a decision of the EU mission. This is unacceptable for the Russian Federation. On the contrary, this violates the elementary customs rules because truckload shipment is torn apart, he said.

He stressed that Russia wants humanitarian right not be violated and necessary aid to be provided to those in need. The official said Kosovo Serbs need foodstuffs, clothes and power stations because electric power outages had been reported.

At the same time, Brazhnikov said the ministry had not completed its mission. Serbia has also asked for medical equipment supplies. This aid will be delivered by air and then by trucks to Kosovo's Red Cross, he added.

The second Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs is now coming to the Romanian-Serbian border, the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry's press service said.

At 2:30 p.m. Moscow time the Russian convoy began moving to the Romanian-Serbian border from the Romanian city of Bistrica, an official of the ministry said.

The convoy is carrying diesel power stations, heaters, camp-furniture, and household heating devices, bed-clothes and foodstuffs. The total weight reaches 160 tonnes.

However, Russia's first humanitarian convoy remains blocked on the dividing line between central Serbia and Kosovo by the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) that refuses to let pass the Emergencies Ministry's convoy carrying humanitarian aid for Kosovo Serbs.