KFOR Commander Erhard Drews tried to pass through the village of Zupce and get to Brnjak administrative crossing some time around noon on Monday, as part of the convoy accompanied by one EULEX vehicle, but he was forced to go back to southern Kosovska Mitrovica because Serbs on the barricades did not let EULEX SUV pass.

The KFOR Commander was accompanied by EULEX deputy chief and former British ambassador to Pristina Andy Sparkes, and the convoy consisted of several KFOR vehicles and one EULEX SUV.

Serbs were willing to let KFOR vehicles pass, but they denied passage to the vehicle of the EU mission.

Drews had brief talks with deputy mayor of Zubin Potok Srdjan Djurovic in an attempt to convince the local population to allow passage both to KFOR and EULEX staff.

Djurovic said that the EULEX vehicle was denied passage because the EU mission has not distanced itself from the Kosovo interim institutions and started working in a neutral manner.

Djurovic told Tanjug that the KFOR commander reiterated his request regarding freedom of movement for all representatives of international missions in Kosovo.

This is a goal we want to see achieved as well, but without the presence of Pristina institutions in northern Kosovo, Djurovic noted.

Serbs granted passage to three KFOR SUVs in Zupce some time around noon on Monday, but they detained two EULEX vehicles which were then forced to return to southern Kosovska Mitrovica.

Serbs on the barricades decided to grant freedom of movement for KFOR members several days ago and earmarked one lane for their vehicles.

According to previous announcements, KFOR does not want to use this possibility until freedom of movement is granted to all representatives of international mission in Kosovo, including EULEX.