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Serbia will never accept introduction of customs at administrative line with Kosovo

Belgrade, 22 September 2009

Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic today stated that Serbia will never accept the introduction of customs at the administrative line with Kosovo-Metohija, as any money collected would be used for financing the so-called Republic of Kosovo.

File photo of Goran Bogdanovic

Author: Tanjug

In an interview with the Tanjug news agency, Bogdanovic stressed that Belgrade will talk with EULEX about the introduction of customs duties only if they agree to distribute the money collected primarily to Serbian communities in the province.

We cannot approve the administrative line with Kosovo being transformed into a real border or customs duty being used for illegal activities against Kosovo Serbs.

As for the judiciary, the Minister said that it is in Serbia's interest that the legal vacuum in northern Kosovo be solved as soon as possible. The government is doing all it can to enable Serbian judges, prosecutors and technical staff to start working in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica as soon as possible, he said, specifying that the government has not yet agreed with EULEX about the laws and regulations to be implemented in Serb inhabited areas.

The Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija is trying to solve the everyday problems of Serbs in the province, Bogdanovic said.

The Ministry has announced a public tender for collecting funds for the economic development of Serbian communities in Kosovo, he said, noting that RSD 86 million have already been set aside and another RSD 110 million will soon be provided.

The money will be used for providing new jobs and assistance to existing enterprises.

Bogdanovic recalled that Serbia is constantly investing in Kosovo’s infrastructure, adding that in the past year two kindergartens were built in the province, while the construction of another two kindergartens is underway.

The Minister said that 40 flats are being built in Brdjani and another 50 in Kosovska Mitrovica, adding that proper control of funds is very important as it helps save money.

Despite the crisis Serbia has been sending the same amount of funding to Kosovo-Metohija as it did last year or the year before that, he added.

Speaking about the local elections, which the provisional Kosovo institutions have scheduled for November 15, Bogdanovic said that the Serbian government and the President have stated clearly that conditions in the province are not suitable for elections.

He underlined that this is a the situation where Serbs do not have freedom of movement and their human and civil rights are being breached, yet the so-called Kosovo government is organising the first elections since 1999, based upon the Ahtisaari plan, Under such circumstances Belgrade cannot call upon Serbs in Kosovo to vote.