Kosovo: Serbs demand withdrawal of EU mission, return of Serb forces

last update: October 19, 17:40

 

Zubin Potok, 19 Oct. (AKI) - Four Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo on Wednesday demanded withdrawal of European Union mission (Eulex) from the newly proclaimed state and return of a contingent of Serb army and police as provided by the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244.

The councilmen of four municipalities at a joint meeting in northern town of Zubin Potok unanimously voted to demand from Belgrade to deploy one thousand policemen and soldiers in the north, as provided by the UN resolution and to renounce hospitality to Eulex which they accused of siding with majority Albanians.

Kosovo Serbs, who make majority population in the north, oppose Kosovo independence declared by Albanians in 2008 and have set up barricades in protest against placing of Kosovo police and customs at two border crossings with Serbia, Brnjak and Jarinje.

Nato forces stationed in Kosovo (KFOR) gave local Serbs ultimatum to remove barricades by Tuesday, but the councilmen ruled the barricades would remain until Kosovo police and customs withdrew.

They voted, however, to allow KFOR convoys free passage to supply its troops in the north. Kfor has been hesitant to use force lately, after a Kosovo policeman was killed in clashes in July and several people were wounded last month.

Serb leaders held a meeting with Kfor representatives Wednesday afternoon, but no agreement was reached. It was not immediately clear what action Kfor may take. It had earlier warned it reserves the right to remove barricades by force.

According to Belgrade media, Serbian president Boris Tadic has assured Kosovo Serbs that Belgrade would not desert them, but at the same time demanded that Kfor should be granted free passage.

Tadic himself said it would be "irresponsible" to discuss publicly what his message contained. He has set as his primary goal Serbia's membership in the EU and is keen at non offending the EU whose 22 out of 27 members have recognized Kosovo.

The resolution 1244 still treats Kosovo as being officially a part of Serbia and provides of 1,000 Serb policemen and soldiers to return there. But no government since democratic changes in October 2000 has dared to ask for implementation of that clause.

Wednesday demand by Kosovo Serbs was the most daring request in that respect and puts Tadic on the spot. Belgrade fears such actions may hurt Serbia's hopes to get a status of an official candidate for EU membership in December.

 

http://www.adnkronos.com/IGN/Aki/English/Security/Kosovo-Serbs-demand-withdrawal-of-EU-mission-return-of-Serb-forces_312556554100.html