Representatives of KFOR stated at a meeting with representatives of north Kosovo Serbs in Zubin Potok on Tuesday that they have received orders from the NATO command to close down the alternative roads in north Kosovo-Metohija.

This information was passed on by Zubin Potok Municipal President Slavisa Ristic after the meeting with representatives of international military and civilian missions in Kosovo.

Ristic expressed belief that closing down of the roads would be a step in the wrong direction, which could destabilize the situation in north Kosovo.

“KFOR Colonel Adolf Conrad told us that KFOR has received an order from the NATO Command in Naples to close down the alternative roads,” Ristic said.

“We do not view the alternative roads leading towards central Serbia as illegal. We believe that these are legal and free roads which our citizens have been using for all these years, and their closure would be an obstacle to the freedom of movement,” Ristic said.

Serbs will not accept closing of roads, and this move reintroduces the risk of a strong protest which may include putting up barricades, Ristic said.

The meeting in Zubin Potok was attended by Head of the Kosovska Mitrovica District Radenko Nedeljkovic, and Leposavic and Zvecan Municipal President, Branko Ninic and Dragisa Milovic, and representatives of UNMIK and EULEX.

Serbs in north Kosovo mostly use alternative roads thus avoiding the Brnjak and Jarinje administrative crossings in the boycott of Kosovo customs officers deployed at the checkpoints.