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"EU fully supports the actions of EULEX and KFOR"

30. April 2009. | 16:43 17:51

Source: EMportal

The EU fully supports the actions of EULEX and KFOR in establishing the rule of law in Kosovo and in defending a safe and secure environment.

EULEX police and KFOR troops have fired stun grenades and tear gas at Serbs protesting in the Kosovska Mitrovica suburb of Brdjani.

The incident took place yesterday at around 11:00 CET as Serbs were protesting at the yellow demarcation line over the restoration of Albanian homes in the region.

Around 100 Serbs gathered in the suburb in the north of the town at 10:00 CET and were peacefully protesting until restoration work began on the houses on the demarcation line.

A number of KFOR armored vehicles were spotted nearby. There are no reports of any injuries. Serbs are protesting because they have not been granted the same rights to rebuild their own houses in the south of the town.

EULEX police used tear gas on Thursday in an attempt to fight back Serb demonstrators trying to approach the area in the district of Brdjani in northern Kosovska Mitrovica where the ethnic Albanians have been reconstructing their houses for six days now.

The members of EULEX police used tear gas to chase off the Brdjani inhabitants who tried to cross "the yellow line" separating the ethnic Albanians and Serbs in this municipality.

The Serbs request an agreement regarding the reconstruction of houses in this district.

The European Union said in a declaration it is deeply concerned by the recent outbreak of violent protests resulting in a number of injured persons in Northern Mitrovica.

The European Union is deeply concerned by the recent outbreak of violent protests resulting in a number of injured persons in Northern Mitrovica.

The EU fully supports the actions of EULEX and KFOR in establishing the rule of law in Kosovo and in defending a safe and secure environment.

The EU will press for anyone who endangers the lives of EULEX and KFOR personnel, as well as any other law-abiding citizens, to be brought swiftly to justice.

The EU defends and supports people's right of return to houses and property that they legitimately own, regardless of their ethnic origins.

EU High Representative Javier Solana's spokeswoman Cristina Gallach told BETA that order needs to be restored in Kosovo and "unacceptable violence" prevented.

Gallach acknowledged Belgrade's announcement that Serbia had nothing to do with the unrest, adding that it is necessary for Serbia to do everything it can to completely prevent any possibility of the now calmed riots starting anew.

In Belgrade, the Serbian parliament Committee on Kosovo has fully supported the protests in Kosovska Mitrovica.

The Committee urged the Serbs to sustain from any provocations and incidents that would jeopardize the citizens' lives and to do their best to reach an agreement in a peaceful manner and through negotiations.

The international community was also urged to honour and adhere to the Protocol on Voluntary and Sustainable Return signed in 2006, with the aim to ensure a safe return of 230,000 Serbs to Kosovo, who were expelled from their homes in 1999 and whose houses are now occupied by Albanians.

The Committee particularly appealed on the police and KFOR not to exert pressure on Serbs, but rather to secure peace and safety of all people living in Kosovo, in accordance with their mandate.

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