Post by Novi Pazar on Oct 25, 2011 20:25:40 GMT -5
Kosovo: Serbs ready to remove barricades, not for police and customs
Zvecan, 25 Oct. (AKI) - Kosovo Serb leaders said on Tuesday they were ready to remove barricades in northern Kosovo to facilitate supply of NATO troops, but would not continue to block Kosovo's police and customs officers.
The mayors of four Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo said at a joint press conference in northern town of Zvecan they would also allow free passage to the European mission in Kosovo (EULEX) on conditions that it ceases transporting Kosovo police and customs officers to the disputed border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak.
The crisis began in July when local Serbs, who oppose Kosovo independence, set up barricades and blocked traffic to protest the placing of Kosovo police and customs at Brnjak and Jarinje.
The policemen and customs officers meanwhile had been transported by EULEX helicopters. Belgrade and Kosovo Serbs have accused EULEX of siding with majority Albanians, who declared independence in 2008.
Kosovo Serb leaders talked for four and a half hours with Serbian president Boris Tadic on Sunday, who urged them to allow free passage to NATO peacekeepers (KFOR) and EULEX.
But the four mayors said on Tuesday EULEX would get free passage only if they got guarantees from Belgrade that no Kosovo police and customs officers would be transported.
But KFOR spokesman Uwe Nowicki said “the freedom of movement must be achieved without any conditions” and limitations for anyone. “Nothing else is acceptable,” Nowicki said.
Serbia opposes Kosovo independence, which has been recognized by more than 80 countries, including the United States and 22 out of 27 EU members. But Brussels insists Serbia must establish “good neighborly relations” with Kosovo in order to proceed towards EU membership which Tadic has set as his main goal.
www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/Politics/Kosovo-Serbs-ready-to-remove-barricades-not-for-police-and-customs_312577137915.html
Zvecan, 25 Oct. (AKI) - Kosovo Serb leaders said on Tuesday they were ready to remove barricades in northern Kosovo to facilitate supply of NATO troops, but would not continue to block Kosovo's police and customs officers.
The mayors of four Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo said at a joint press conference in northern town of Zvecan they would also allow free passage to the European mission in Kosovo (EULEX) on conditions that it ceases transporting Kosovo police and customs officers to the disputed border crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak.
The crisis began in July when local Serbs, who oppose Kosovo independence, set up barricades and blocked traffic to protest the placing of Kosovo police and customs at Brnjak and Jarinje.
The policemen and customs officers meanwhile had been transported by EULEX helicopters. Belgrade and Kosovo Serbs have accused EULEX of siding with majority Albanians, who declared independence in 2008.
Kosovo Serb leaders talked for four and a half hours with Serbian president Boris Tadic on Sunday, who urged them to allow free passage to NATO peacekeepers (KFOR) and EULEX.
But the four mayors said on Tuesday EULEX would get free passage only if they got guarantees from Belgrade that no Kosovo police and customs officers would be transported.
But KFOR spokesman Uwe Nowicki said “the freedom of movement must be achieved without any conditions” and limitations for anyone. “Nothing else is acceptable,” Nowicki said.
Serbia opposes Kosovo independence, which has been recognized by more than 80 countries, including the United States and 22 out of 27 EU members. But Brussels insists Serbia must establish “good neighborly relations” with Kosovo in order to proceed towards EU membership which Tadic has set as his main goal.
www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/Politics/Kosovo-Serbs-ready-to-remove-barricades-not-for-police-and-customs_312577137915.html