North Kosovo mayors call for protection of Serbs

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Representatives of four Serb-dominated municipalities in north Kosovo urged on Thursday the Kosovo police to fully engage in protecting Serbs and ensuring security for all citizens.

An extraordinary meeting was held in Kosovska Mitrovica on Thursday between representatives of four Serb-dominated municipalities in north Kosovo and regional police in the presence of the missions in charge of security in the province.

The Kosovo police was urged to fully engage in protecting Serbs, and particularly those who live in municipalities near Albanian-dominated municipalities, it was stated in a joint statement by mayors of North Mitrovica, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Zvecan.

They pointed to deterioration of the security situation in the municipalities of Mitrovica and Zvecan, adding that this is part of an organized and synchronized provocation kindled at the football match between Serbia and Albania in Belgrade on Tuesday evening.

"The citizens of Kosovska Mitrovica and Zvecan are scared and distressed by the latest display of hatred and intolerance which is reminiscent of the March 17, 2004 pogrom," the statement reads.

It was concluded that the police will draft and implement suitable operation plans, while the prosecution is expected to bring cases against all organizers, participants and perpetrators who took part in disturbing public peace and order with a view to preventing nationalist incidents relating to the propaganda about creation of Greater Albania and radical Islamism which is growing in strength in Kosovo-Metohija, the statement reads.