The European Commission has come to an agreement with the Russian government on the manner of ensuring passage to a convoy of humanitarian aid from Russia destined for Kosovo, European Commission spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic told BETA on Dec. 14.

The EU is in touch with all involved sides with a view to making the agreement a reality, Kocijancic stressed.

Kocijancic voiced hope that everyone would cooperate so the deal could be put into effect quickly.

The convoy of around 300 tons of humanitarian aid from Russia for Kosovo Serbs had been stopped at the Jarinje administrative line crossing since Dec. 13. Only two of the 27 trucks were allowed to pass EULEX's customs checkpoint at Jarinje.

One of the trucks is on the administrative line itself, where it was halted by EULEX members and not allowed to proceed into Kosovo.

The Russian Foreign Ministry announced late on Dec. 14 that it was working on ensuring passage for the convoy, accusing EULEX of stepping outside its status-neutral mandate and creating obstacles by inventing various reasons to disallow entry to the cargo.

Shoygu: No official explanation for convoy delay

Russia's Emergency Situations Minister Sergey Shoygu said Wednesday that the Russian humanitarian aid convoy for Serbs in Kosovo was denied passage without an official explanation, while Russia's Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin pointed out it is a humanitarian crime which Moscow cannot negotiate with the unrecognized state in Kosovo.

The problem with the passage of the Russian aid convoy for Serbs in Kosovo has not been resolved. We do not know when it will be resolved, because we have not received an official response. We are acting strictly in line with the UN resolution and sending only humanitarian cargo, which can be verified, Shoygy told Russia 24 television.

Russia's Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin said it is not possible for Russia to negotiate the convoy's passage with the Albanian authorities in Kosovo.

We do not recognize these authorities as the authorities of an independent country. We will continue talks only with international representatives of NATO and the EU. They are responsible for the recognition of Kosovo and the recognition of gangsters from the former Kosovo army who have now formed their own police units, Rogozin told Russia 24.

Calling the detainment of the convoy a humanitarian crime, Rogozin said the event will be one of the topics of the EU-Russia summit.

The convoy transporting around 280 tonnes of humanitarian aid has been waiting at the Jarinje administrative crossing since Tuesday. EULEX is not letting through Russian trucks which refused to be escorted by EULEX, while the Russians have turned down EULEX's suggestion to cross at the Merdare crossing which is controlled by the Kosovo police.

Konuzin: Aid convoy delay discussed in Brussels

Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Konuzin said on Wednesday at the Jarinje administrative crossing that the detainment of the Russian humanitarian aid convoy at that gate is being discussed in Brussels.

Konuzin said that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is taking part in the EU-Russia summit, during which the situation related to detainment of the convoy at Jarinje will be one of the main topics of his talks.

The issue is being discussed in Brussels, the Russian ambassador said, adding that the Russian representative to the EU is in constant contact with the Union's representatives and that they are working on resolving the issue.

Konuzin said that he spoke about the aid convoy delay twice with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Emergency
Situations Minister Sergey Shoygu, who requested from him to stay with the convoy.

I do not want to make any prediction as to when the issue might be resolved. The situation is surreal. We have a humanitarian aid convoy here, and the EU first allowed the passage, and then block it out of political reasons, he said.

Konuzin said that as regards the Russian humanitarian aid convoy, an artificial political problem has been created, and ultimatums are being delivered.

Since the problem has acquired a political dimension, it must be resolved at the political level. I do not want to make any prediction as to how and when the issue might be resolved, said Konuzin, who had been at the Jarinje administrative crossing since Tuesday morning when few trucks (out of 25) drove past the checkpoint.

Degert: EULEX does not block Russian aid convoy

Head of the EU delegation to Serbia Vincent Deger stated Wednesday that it is not true that EULEX is blocking the passage of the Russian humanitarian convoy, stressing that this is a standard procedure.

We have received an official letter from Russian Ambassador Alexander Konuzin requesting an escort for the convoy, there is a standard procedure for requesting an escort, Deger told journalists in Belgrade.

Deger underlined that it is for the situation in the field that an escort cannot be provided, but added that there is a possibility of an urgent procedure according to which escort would be provided within a day upon a convoy's arrival at the boundary line, Deger said.

We will see what will be done in this respect, Deger concluded.

The Russian aid convoy is waiting for 24 hours already at the Jarinje administrative crossing.