Recent statements that Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija (KiM) will have to use either RKS or KS license plates and Kosovo's IDs as of June 1 are only Pristina's provocation, since nothing has been specified regarding the issues yet, Serbian Minister for KiM Goran Bogdanovic has said.

He noted that the license plates and IDs will be the topics of this week's talks between chief of Belgrade's negotiation team Borislav Stefanovic and EU mediator Robert Cooper.

However, a great number of Serbs who live south to Ibar (River) already uses the mentioned plates and Kosovo IDs for the sake of their own safety. This does not mean they accept them, but rather that they are forced to do that in order to be able to move freely. Everyone knows that security situation in this area is much more difficult than in the north, the minister told Belgrade daily Vecernje novosti.

He also said that Serbs in northern Kosovo cannot be forced to use license plates or IDs of Kosovo institutions, which do not exist in this part of the province.

The problem has to be solved at a higher level, and I hope that this will be part of an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina. Still, the will of the citizen has to be respected, and neither license plates nor IDs can be imposed on them. The issue will definitely be resolved when the status of northern Kosovo is determined, Bogdanovic said.

He qualified as unacceptable the fact the EULEX distributed leaflets at the crossings of Jarinje and Brnjak, which say that Kosovo citizens have to start using KS or RKS license plates, IDs, driving and traffic license as of June 1.

EULEX withdrew the leaflets after an intervention by our ministry, but, with this move, it unfortunately once again took Pristina's side, which is not good, the minister said.