Deadline for removal of monument expires

BELGRADE, PRESEVO A deadline for the removal of a controversial monument in the southern Serbian town of Presevo expired at midnight, the Justice Ministry has released. The situation in Presevo is calm but citizens are upset and numerous domestic and foreign TV crews are present. Deadline for removal of monument expires Members of the Kosovo assembly in Pristina said earlier that there was "a possibility of armed conflicts if the Serbian institutions tried to remove the monument". However, the Serbian Justice Ministry will not give up on its decision to remove the memorial honoring members of the so-called Liberation Army of Presevo, Medvedja, and Bujanovac (UCPMB) killed in clashes with the Serbian forces in 2000 and 2001. Justice Minister Nikola Selakovic said that the ministry’s Inspection would file a request for the start of a misdemeanor proceeding against the Presevo municipal administration head. He explained that the Inspection would define the procedure and legal deadlines for the removal of the monument. “After the deadline expires, we will act and remove the illegally erected memorial with the help from organs in charge of internal affairs if necessary,” Selakovic underscored. On the other hand, Presevo Deputy Mayor Skender Destani told B92 Radio that the Justice Ministry had not right to remove the monument and that only the court could make such a decision. “If the court makes such a decision, we will respect it but we have not received such a decision and we cannot remove the monument for now,” he stressed. Destani said that the problem could only be solved through talks between Prime Minister Ivica Dacic and the local self-government. “We will not stop them if they move to remove the monument but it is possible that some citizens will defend it with their bodies,” he said. Kosovo assembly members Rexhep Selimi and Nair Hasani said that armed conflicts were possible if the Serbian institutions removed the monument. “Serbia’s attack on the monument is an attack on Albanians. I am not saying or calling for mobilization but I am warning that the situation can escalate, I am saying that there could be war,” Selimi said. Hasani added that Kosovo Albanians “are ready to protect Albanians in the Presevo Valley”. “We are ready to protect their rights with war. We will got to protect Albanians if anyone touches the monument,” he said. The controversial monument in downtown Presevo (Beta) B92 Beta Tanjug

Deadline for removal of monument expires

Members of the Kosovo assembly in Priština said earlier that there was "a possibility of armed conflicts if the Serbian institutions tried to remove the monument".

However, the Serbian Justice Ministry will not give up on its decision to remove the memorial honoring members of the so-called Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa, and Bujanovac (UCPMB) killed in clashes with the Serbian forces in 2000 and 2001.

Justice Minister Nikola Selaković said that the ministry’s Inspection would file a request for the start of a misdemeanor proceeding against the Preševo municipal administration head. He explained that the Inspection would define the procedure and legal deadlines for the removal of the monument.

“After the deadline expires, we will act and remove the illegally erected memorial with the help from organs in charge of internal affairs if necessary,” Selaković underscored.

On the other hand, Preševo Deputy Mayor Skender Destani told B92 Radio that the Justice Ministry had not right to remove the monument and that only the court could make such a decision.

“If the court makes such a decision, we will respect it but we have not received such a decision and we cannot remove the monument for now,” he stressed.

Destani said that the problem could only be solved through talks between Prime Minister Ivica Dačić and the local self-government.

“We will not stop them if they move to remove the monument but it is possible that some citizens will defend it with their bodies,” he said.

Kosovo assembly members Rexhep Selimi and Nair Hasani said that armed conflicts were possible if the Serbian institutions removed the monument.

“Serbia’s attack on the monument is an attack on Albanians. I am not saying or calling for mobilization but I am warning that the situation can escalate, I am saying that there could be war,” Selimi said.

Hasani added that Kosovo Albanians “are ready to protect Albanians in the Preševo Valley”.

“We are ready to protect their rights with war. We will got to protect Albanians if anyone touches the monument,” he said.