KOSOVO : Serbs in Mitrovica protest at recognition of Kosovo independence by neighbouring countries

Record ID: 212787

  • Title: KOSOVO : Serbs in Mitrovica protest at recognition of Kosovo independence by neighbouring countries
  • Date: 25th March 2008
  • Summary: (W3) MITROVICA, KOSOVO, (MARCH 25, 2008) (REUTERS) PEOPLE GATHERED IN MITROVICA SQUARE WAVING WITH SERBIAN NATIONAL FLAGS MAN HOLDING BANNER READING: "IN TO EU ONLY WITH KOSOVO" (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) KOSOVO SERB LEADER MILAN IVANOVIC, SAYING: "We are requesting the return of Serbian army and police because that is the UN resolution 1244." BOY HOLDING SERBIAN NATIONAL FLAG (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) KOSOVO SERB LEADER MILAN IVANOVIC, SAYING: "We are requesting the return of Russian forces on territories where Serbs are living." PEOPLE WAVING SERBIAN FLAGS (SOUNDBITE) (Serbian) KOSOVO SERB LEADER MILAN IVANOVIC, SAYING: "We should break the diplomatic relations with Albania, there are mass graves of kidnapped Kosovo Serbs and we should boycott Slovenian and Croatian goods." GIRL WATCHING FROM BALCONY PEOPLE GATHERED AT THE RALLY
  • Embargoed: 9th April 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAEH8305TT9JK6QMIE51CSLYDAY
  • Story Text: Several thousand Kosovo Serbs protest in Mitrovica against Serbia's neighbouring countries after they recognised Kosovo independence.
    Several thousand Serbs protested against independence in the Serb stronghold of Mitrovica in north Kosovo, scene of riots last week in which one U.N. policeman died.
    A NATO helicopter flew above the flashpoint town on Tuesday (March 25), but there were no troops or police on the streets.
    Addressing the crowd, Kosovo Serb leader Milan Ivanovic said: "We are requesting the return of Serbian army and police because that is the UN resolution 1244," he said, adding "We are requesting the return of Russian forces on territories where Serbs are living."
    Kosovo Serbs also requested Belgrade to break diplomatic relations with Albania and boycott Croatian and Slovenian goods.
    Kosovo Serb leader Milan Ivanovic explained the request by saying "We should break the diplomatic relations with Albania, there are mass graves of kidnapped Kosovo Serbs and we should boycott Slovenian and Croatian goods."
    Serbia's main ally, Russia, said on Monday it would send humanitarian aid to Serb-populated enclaves of Kosovo, at Serbia's Prime Minister Kostunica request. Russian President Vladimir Putin denied this had anything to do with the political dispute over independence.
    Kosovo's 90 percent Albanian majority province broke away from Serbia five weeks ago, after nearly 9 years under United Nations administration. They declared independence with the backing of most EU members and the United States.
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