Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Konuzin said late Tuesday that a Russian convoy carrying humanitarian aid to Kosovo Serbs had been stopped by EULEX at the Jarinje administrative crossing.

The convoy of trucks with humanitarian aid sent by the Russian Ministry for Emergency Situations and meant to be delivered to Serbs in Kosovo arrived at the gates at Jarinje this morning, the ambassador told reporters at the spot, adding that the convoy had been told it would be allowed to cross the administrative line between central Serbia and the Kosovo province.

He said that the formalities concerning the procedures for trucks to enter the southern Serbian province had to be observed and were underway.

Two trucks have already been allowed to enter and are already in the province, and the third truck is currently undergoing the same procedure, said Konuzin.

“EULEX then issued an order to halt the formal procedure, blocking the convoy movement, he said. We received no information as to the reason for stopping the control procedure.

Then we were given the condition to either continue to move on accompanied by EULEX or to go to the Merdare checkpoint,” he said.

Konuzin said EULEX had then been said it was not required to escort the convoy and that the convoy would not go on to Merdare because the crossing was controlled by the authorities from Pristina that neither Russia nor the Serbian authorities considered legitimate.

For now, the movement of the convoy remains blocked, Konuzin said, adding that he was in contact with the Serbian and Russian authorities, trying to find a solution.

“The most important thing is for the Russian humanitarian aid to reach those for whom it is meant - Kosovo Serbs,” the Russian diplomat said.

EULEX spokesperson Irina Gudlejevic told Tanjug Monday that the mission received a request that its members escort a convoy of Russian humanitarian aid.

Gudeljevic said that Russians in the meantime withdrew the request, so that the new situation is currently being considered.

She confirmed that several EULEX vehicles that were headed towards Jarinje were halted by citizens in Zvecan.

EULEX police vehicles which were halted in Zvecan returned towards Jagnjenica, Tanjug's reporter on the scene said. They spent much of the afternoon in the KFOR camp in Jagnjenica, and were then stationed in the neighboring Albanian village Cabra.

Gudeljevic confirmed that three trucks of the Russian convoy went through control procedure by 3.30 pm.

International Civilian Representative Pieter Feith stated late on Tuesday that he does not see how the humanitarian aid from Russia could help the situation in northern Kosovo.

In the talks with reporters from central Serbia's editorial staffs, Feith stated that he does not know whether the delivery of Russia's aid is a marketing trick or something else, and added that he does not see how this could help the situation in northern Kosovo.

The arrival of the convoy with Russia's humanitarian aid in Kosovo-Metohija was slowed down on Tuesday because of checks performed at administrative crossing Jarinje and only two out of 25 trucks crossed the administrative line during the afternoon.

Feith also added that he does not understand why Russian Ambassador to Serbia Aleksandr Konuzin visited northern Kosovo in the first place, because Russia has its diplomatic representative in Pristina.

We need to start obeying by the rules, Feith said. He noted that there is no humanitarian emergency in northern Kosovo and that aid is not necessary.