More than 300 Serb police officers return to KPS
More than 300 Serb police officers, members of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS), returned to their duties by 4 p.m. Tuesday, KPS spokesman Arber Beka said.
(KosovoCompromise Staff) Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Beka said that 106 Serb police officers from the Gnjilane region returned to their posts, that is 97% of the suspended members. In Pec region all Serb members of KPS resumed their posts, whereas in Pristina their number is not yet determined.
The Serb police officers have been suspended with pay for refusing to follow the chain of command of the KPS, upon the unilateral proclamation of the independence of the province on February 17, 2008.
EULEX Chief Yves De Kermabon also urged on the Serb police officers to return to their jobs, pointing out that the final deadline would expire at 4 p.m. Tuesday.
Serbian Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic earlier said that the Serbian government has the political will to invite the Serb members of KPS to return to the service.
"Intensive talks are underway with the EULEX Mission, and a solution is at hand. We expect the solution will be found this very week and that we will be able to call on the Serbs to return to the Kosovo police," Bogdanovic said.
