Serbs protest over settlement of Albanians
Serbs from the northern Kosovska Mitrovica suburb of Brdjani staged another protest Thursday against the construction of new homes for Albanians and their settlement there.
(KosovoCompromiseStuff) Friday, November 23, 2012
The Serbs, who are majority in northern Kosovska Mitrovica, stated they are not against the restoration of destroyed Albanian homes, but against the construction of new ones and the settlement of Albanians who never lived in Brdjani at all, since this is an attempt to change the ethnic structure of population in this part of the city.
The works on the restoration of houses are currently suspended.
The Serbs protested several hundred meters away from the site at which the ethnic Albanians want to build new and restore destroyed houses, and the location was secured by EULEX and the Kosovo police.
Municipal President of Kosovska Mitrovica Krstimir Pantic told the EULEX police that Albanians in Brdjani are building houses and facilities illegally and without permits from UNMIK administration.
Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Redzepi paid a visit to Brdjani on Thursday together with director general of the Kosovo police.
Redzepi denied information that the members of Kosovo police special units ROSU are present in Brdjani and added they are in their headquarters in the village of Suvi Dol, but that the level of their readiness has been raised.
EULEX spokesperson Irina Gudeljevic told Tanjug that allegations made by certain media that EULEX prevented ROSU units from coming to Brdjani are untrue.
She stated that EULEX' police has been present in Brdjani as of late Wednesday, in order to prevent possible clashes, and called on everyone to behave responsibly and refrain from violence of any kind.
There was an explosion in Brdjani on Wednesday but there were no casualties, while on Tuesday a shooting occurred.
The shooting was preceded by a clash between Serbs and Albanians, who are rebuilding some houses in the neighborhood. The two sides threw rocks at each other.
The works on the restoration of houses are currently suspended.
The Serbs protested several hundred meters away from the site at which the ethnic Albanians want to build new and restore destroyed houses, and the location was secured by EULEX and the Kosovo police.
Municipal President of Kosovska Mitrovica Krstimir Pantic told the EULEX police that Albanians in Brdjani are building houses and facilities illegally and without permits from UNMIK administration.
Kosovo Interior Minister Bajram Redzepi paid a visit to Brdjani on Thursday together with director general of the Kosovo police.
Redzepi denied information that the members of Kosovo police special units ROSU are present in Brdjani and added they are in their headquarters in the village of Suvi Dol, but that the level of their readiness has been raised.
EULEX spokesperson Irina Gudeljevic told Tanjug that allegations made by certain media that EULEX prevented ROSU units from coming to Brdjani are untrue.
She stated that EULEX' police has been present in Brdjani as of late Wednesday, in order to prevent possible clashes, and called on everyone to behave responsibly and refrain from violence of any kind.
There was an explosion in Brdjani on Wednesday but there were no casualties, while on Tuesday a shooting occurred.
The shooting was preceded by a clash between Serbs and Albanians, who are rebuilding some houses in the neighborhood. The two sides threw rocks at each other.
