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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Fight against crime, war crimes knows no national differences

Belgrade, 27 December 2008

First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior Ivica Dacic today stated that the arrest of former OVK members in Presevo was not directed against the Albanian population, adding that the fight against organised crime and war crimes does not care about nationality.

Author: Tanjug

At the Antiterrorist Unit base in Barajevo, Dacic told the press that the operation was one of the most successfully performed actions of that type.

He also warned that the arrests may lead to certain security risks, particularly by those who are involved in war crimes against Serbs. He noted that aggravating the situation in the south does not help the Albanian need to be an integral part of that society, adding that the operation is of huge importance to the state.

Dacic also said that the police did not use force in yesterday’s operation, noting that the state guarantees safety to all, regardless of their nationality. Serbia is investigating war crimes committed on the territory of former Yugoslavia, but we think that the whole world should know about the crimes against Serbs, particularly in Kosovo-Metohija, stressed the Deputy Prime Minister. He said that the operation was carried out at the request of the War Crimes Prosecution, recalling that several Serb nationals have also been taken into custody recently as part of the investigation. According to him, ten people were arrested and 17 facilities searched, using a minimum use of force.

Dacic pointed to the importance of the local multiethnic police project, which is currently being implemented in Southern Serbia, Vojvodina and Sandzak, with the help of the OSCE mission and the Norwegian government. He explained that the project implies the inclusion of national minorities into the police, which shows that Serbia is advocating the integration of minorities in all spheres of society. Russian Ambassador to Belgrade Alexander Konuzin delivered a donation of 30 tonnes of oil to the Antiterrorist Unit, as well as pay cards of RSD 10,000 each, for the five best unit members. The donation was provided by Lukoil and Deputy Prime Minister Dacic received it on behalf of the unit.