Kosovo Premier Hashim Thaci has notified the chief of the International Civil Office in a letter that the Kosovo government will not allow Serbian officials to visit Kosovo, due to political provocations during their previous visits, the Kosovo media reported on Aug. 18.

In the letter, Thaci informed EU high representative in Kosovo Pieter Feith that the Kosovo cabinet will not allow Serbian Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic to visit Kosovo on Aug. 19, 2010.

Thaci also said he has decided to "suspend" all requests by Serbian officials for visits to Kosovo, because so far they have failed to "act in accordance with the rules and procedures for visits by Serbian officials to Kosovo."

"This suspension will remain in effect until some other decision is made," the premier says in the letter, stressing that the decision has nothing to do with the freedom of movement, rather that its goal is to "prevent political provocations" by Serbian government officials in Kosovo.

Pieter Feith's office has so far mediated in arranging visits by Serbian officials. Visit requests were sent to Feith via the EU office in Belgrade and Feith then delivered them to the Kosovo government.

Representatives of Feith's office in Pristina declined to comment on Thaci's letter, explaining that it is the exclusive right of the Kosovo government to allow or prevent visits, while the task of the office of the EU high representative has been to facilitate the organizing of visits.

The decision by Pristina officials to put a stop to Serbian government representatives' visits came after a public reaction and dissatisfaction following last week's visit by Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic to Kosovo, which had been announced as a religious one.