YUGOSLAVIA: FRENCH KFOR PEACEKEEPERS PUT IN PLACE LATEST PART OF THEIR SECURITY PLAN IN TENSE KOSOVO CITY OF MITROVICA

Record ID: 350205

  • Title: YUGOSLAVIA: FRENCH KFOR PEACEKEEPERS PUT IN PLACE LATEST PART OF THEIR SECURITY PLAN IN TENSE KOSOVO CITY OF MITROVICA
  • Date: 19th March 2000
  • Summary: KOSOVSKA MITROVICA (MARCH 19, 2000) ( REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. VARIOUS OF NEW FRENCH ROADBLOCKS BEING PUT ON ROAD FROM KOSOVSKA MITROVICA TO ZVECANE (3 SHOTS) 0.22 2. WS/SLV: AROUND 150 SERBS GATHERING AT THE ROADBLOCKS (2 SHOTS) 0.36 3. VARIOUS SECURITY (2 SHOTS) 0.52 PRISTINA, SERBIA (MARCH 18, 2000) ( REUTERS - ACCESS ALL)
  • Embargoed: 3rd April 2000 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: MITROVICA AND PRISTINA, KOSOVO, YUGOSLAVIA
  • City:
  • Country: Yugoslavia
  • Reuters ID: LVAEE6YHR7D2HAUQHDZ3NGEFNG1R
  • Story Text: French peacekeepers threw up extra road blocks in the
    tense north side of the flashpoint city of Kosovsa Mitrovica
    on Sunday, possibly as part of a phased plan to step up
    security in the city.About 150 Serbs milled around the
    checkpoint.

    In Pristina, the United Nations's special representative
    for Kosovo Bernard Kouchner, said peace would be brought
    to the city whatever the cost.In a departure from his
    previous stated aim of a multi-ethnic Kosovo, Kouchner also
    said the objective was now only co-existence.

    French peacekeepers chose a snowy Sunday afternoon
    (March 19) to put in place the latest part of their
    "confidence zone" -- a phased plan to boost security in the
    centre of a town that has come to symbolise tensions between
    ethnic Albanians and Serbs.

    About 150 Serbs milled around the checkpoint angry at the
    extra security.But by mid-afternoon there was no violence.

    Clashes between French peacekeepers and Serb protesters
    earlier this week put Mitrovica back at the centre of
    international attention.

    Under the plan for the confidence zone, KFOR peacekeepers
    are gradually stepping up security in the central part of town
    both on the Serb north and the Albanian south.

    In Pristina, Bernard Kouchner said the plan would be put
    in place come what may.But he said the best the international
    community could hope for was for peaceful coexistence between
    Serbs and Albanians.Talk of a multi-ethnic Kosovo, which had
    been the hallmark of the flamboyant French former doctor, was
    no longer in evidence.


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