Intimidation prevents return of Kosovo Serbs

"While (ethnic) Albanian authorities in Kosovo are all mouth about democracy and inviting (IDPs) to return, Serbs who try to return face attacks, beatings, stoning, and even accusations that the allegedly commuted crimes," Bogdanovic told Vecernje Novosti daily.

After Kosovo Albanian authorities indicted 22 Serbs of war crimes, the minister says Serbs cannot go back to their homes in Kosovo because they fear for their safety.

According to Bogdanovic, another major obstacle is the issue of unsolved property questions - i.e., of Serb property usurped by ethnic Albanians, which cannot be returned to the rightful owners "due to the inefficient court system".

"Last year, in cooperation with the UNHCR, we made a list of those exiled and determined that 1,274 families wished to return to Kosovo. However, many do not dare make that step, because they are afraid," said Bogdanovic.

According to the UNHCR website, on August 1, 2009, there were 205,835 registered Serb IDPs from Kosovo, now residing in other parts of Serbia.

Previously, reports also suggested that more than 20,000 were also IDPs inside Kosovo.

Bogdanovic expects that phone lines that have been cut to the Serb communities in the province will be completely restored soon.

"Landline and mobile telephony are working in the largest part of Serb enclaves and there is an ongoing activity to solve the problem in all parts of the province where Serbs live," he said in Belgrade.

The Serbian government, Ministry for Kosovo and landline and mobile operators are trying to peacefully resolve the problem which arose after a unilateral action taken by the temporary authorities in Pristina, the minister stressed.