Belgrade: EULEX in violation of UN resolution

Bogdanovic reacted to the news out of Pristina this Wednesday that EULEX would "prohibit unauthorized visits of Serbian officials" by saying that the cooperation between Belgrade and EULEX was being jeopardized with the announcement.

"Clearly, with this move EULEX has taken the side of Pristina, assuming the role of the secessionists' advocate, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244," Bogdanovic stated.

"Our patience and our demonstrated constructive approach have their limits," the minister warned in a statement carried by Beta news agency.

Bogdanovic added that EULEX's decision meant that it also violated the neutrality to which it was obligated by its own mandate.

The minister noted that this decision came after a recent statement by EU envoy for northern Kosovo Michael Giffoni, who was quoted as saying that the status of Kosovo was a "closed issue as far as the Union was concerned".

"I demand that EULEX urgently reverse this decision, because otherwise, as I have stated, our cooperation and relations will be seriously brought into question. This decision was clearly deliberately timed ahead of the (local) elections in (northern Kosovska) Mitrovica, to in this way join in Pristina's provocations," said the minister.

Bogdanovic added that the early local elections in the Serb-dominated municipality would be held regardless of provocations, and that they would serve to "confirm the credibility of the state of Serbia, strengthen her institutions and presence in the Province, and especially in its northern part".

"I would like to stress that this morning I traveled from Belgrade with no problems to the northern part of the Province, where I am right now. How will anyone prohibit me, born and living in Kosovo, or any other politician from the Province, from going to our own homes," Bogdanovic said in his statement.