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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

In the service of citizens

Assistant Minister for Kosovo-Metohija arrested in Drsnik village

Belgrade, 26 January 2010

Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Goran Bogdanovic said that the arrest of Assistant Minister for Kosovo-Metohija Branislav Ristic in the village of Drsnik near Klina that took place today will not contribute to reconciliation of Serbs and Albanians, but that it will cause new divisions and conflicts in the province.

In a statement to Radio Television Serbia, Bogdanovic said that Ristic’s arrest is a clear sign that Pristina opted for radicalisation and escalation of conflicts, and added that the international community will have to make it clear what its position on this matter is.

He said that what happened today and what was happening before is a message to all Serbs in Kosovo-Metohija that there is no place for them there and that they must obey the rules of the Kosovo government.

Bogdanovic reiterated that Serbia will continue to fight for the basic human rights of Serbs living in Kosovo and for those who want to return to the places which have been their homes for centuries.

According to him, all people who have been taken in today live with their families in Kosovo-Metohija and that is one more proof that there is no freedom of movement in the southern Serbian province.

Bogdanovic said that Borislav Tajic of the Ministry for Kosovo-Metohija was arrested as well as director of the Centre for Social Work in Kosovska Mitrovica Miladin Djurovic, mayor of Klina Svetislav Dabizljevic and a representative of returnees in the village of Dolac, Boza Markovic.

The Minister said that his assistant, who is responsible for the return, should have met today with representatives of the returnee community to discuss the problems they are facing.

Bogdanovic said that the response to the incident that happened today was swift.

According to him, it is incomprehensible that the international community observes the situation in this way, without taking any measures regarding such incidents, which can only destabilise the already fragile situation in Kosovo-Metohija.

Ristic was released with police escort and was set free on the administrative line. After interrogation other persons who are in custody will be released as well.