Implementation of agreement on crossings begins

JARINJE The implementation of the Brussels agreement between Belgrade and Pristina on integrated management of crossings has started at Jarinje and Merdare. The Jarinje checkpoint was opened under the IBM agreement. There are no "state symbols" at the location, said reports. Implementation of agreement on crossings begins Construction works, slowed last week because of a protest organized by local Serbs, are not yet complete there. Members of the EU mission (EULEX), and Serbia's police (MUP) are located some ten meters from each other. There are a total of six containers at Jarinje that are used by EULEX and MUP officers. Belgrade chief negotiator in the technical dialogue Dejan Pavicevic was also there this morning, to say that he did not expect any problems in the implementation of the agreement. A large number of reporters were also at Jarinje. Another checkpoint was opened on Monday under the new regime - that of Merdare. The area was expanded "in order to make the facilities housing Serb and Kosovo officials closer", said reports. Beside this "bringing closer of the facilities", the manner in which vehicles and passengers are checked is the same as before: there are two separate controls, now in one space. Once again, there are no "state symbols" at Merdare, where Serbian police and customs, as well as those of the Pristina authorities, and EULEX officials, are located. (B92) "Procedure unchanged" Head of Belgrade's team in the technical dialogue with Pristina Dejan Pavicevic has said the procedure at Jarinje integrated checkpoint, which opened Monday morning, will stay unchanged. Pavicevic said there were no state symbols at the checkpoint and the crossing procedure would remain the same, in line with agreements made in Brussels and the guarantees the Serbian government had given to Serbs in Kosovo. "Citizens will only need an ID to cross at Jarinje, same as before, and for those with Kosovo documents, the regime determined by the freedom of movement agreement stays in effect," said Pavicevic. Persons with Kosovo documents are issued a so-called entry-exit document by the Serbian Interior Ministry, he told reporters who came to cover the opening of the Jarinje crossing. "Nothing will change in the insurance regime either. Both sides pay insurance when they cross the administrative line, but we will continue talks on this issue very soon and try to resolve the problem," he said. Pavicevic said this was one of the major impediments to freedom of movement, because insurance is an expense people could do without. The insurance container is not here, so draw your own conclusions whether vehicles coming from central Serbia will need to pay it, said Pavicevic. Deal "benefits people", EULEX "extremely satisfied" EULEX spokeswoman Irina Gudeljevic on Monday welcomed the start of implementation of the integrated crossings management agreement reached by Belgrade and Pristina in Brussels at the Jarinje and Merdare crossings, noting it was in the best interest of the people. "We are extremely satisfied with the implementation of the existing agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. As always, EULEX supports all the agreements Belgrade and Pristina are ready to implement and we will continue to do so in the future," Gudeljevic told Tanjug. She said EULEX had its own customs and police officers at the crossings and was overseeing things. "The important thing is that we work as a team here," the said the spokeswoman for the EU mission in Kosovo. Communication regarding any details related to the crossings should happen between Belgrade and Pristina. EULEX is here to see that the agreement, reached by Belgrade and Pristina with EU mediation, is implemented, said Gudeljevic. Tanjug

Implementation of agreement on crossings begins

Construction works, slowed last week because of a protest organized by local Serbs, are not yet complete there.

Members of the EU mission (EULEX), and Serbia's police (MUP) are located some ten meters from each other.

There are a total of six containers at Jarinje that are used by EULEX and MUP officers.

Belgrade chief negotiator in the technical dialogue Dejan Pavićević was also there this morning, to say that he did not expect any problems in the implementation of the agreement.

A large number of reporters were also at Jarinje.

Another checkpoint was opened on Monday under the new regime - that of Merdare.

The area was expanded "in order to make the facilities housing Serb and Kosovo officials closer", said reports.

Beside this "bringing closer of the facilities", the manner in which vehicles and passengers are checked is the same as before: there are two separate controls, now in one space.

Once again, there are no "state symbols" at Merdare, where Serbian police and customs, as well as those of the Priština authorities, and EULEX officials, are located.

"Procedure unchanged"

Head of Belgrade's team in the technical dialogue with Priština Dejan Pavićević has said the procedure at Jarinje integrated checkpoint, which opened Monday morning, will stay unchanged.

Pavićević said there were no state symbols at the checkpoint and the crossing procedure would remain the same, in line with agreements made in Brussels and the guarantees the Serbian government had given to Serbs in Kosovo.

"Citizens will only need an ID to cross at Jarinje, same as before, and for those with Kosovo documents, the regime determined by the freedom of movement agreement stays in effect," said Pavićević.

Persons with Kosovo documents are issued a so-called entry-exit document by the Serbian Interior Ministry, he told reporters who came to cover the opening of the Jarinje crossing.

"Nothing will change in the insurance regime either. Both sides pay insurance when they cross the administrative line, but we will continue talks on this issue very soon and try to resolve the problem," he said.

Pavićević said this was one of the major impediments to freedom of movement, because insurance is an expense people could do without.

The insurance container is not here, so draw your own conclusions whether vehicles coming from central Serbia will need to pay it, said Pavićević.

Deal "benefits people", EULEX "extremely satisfied"

EULEX spokeswoman Irina Gudeljevic on Monday welcomed the start of implementation of the integrated crossings management agreement reached by Belgrade and Priština in Brussels at the Jarinje and Merdare crossings, noting it was in the best interest of the people.

"We are extremely satisfied with the implementation of the existing agreement between Belgrade and Priština. As always, EULEX supports all the agreements Belgrade and Pristina are ready to implement and we will continue to do so in the future," Gudeljevic told Tanjug.

She said EULEX had its own customs and police officers at the crossings and was overseeing things. "The important thing is that we work as a team here," the said the spokeswoman for the EU mission in Kosovo.

Communication regarding any details related to the crossings should happen between Belgrade and Pristina. EULEX is here to see that the agreement, reached by Belgrade and Priština with EU mediation, is implemented, said Gudeljevic.