Kosovo: UN condemns rock-throwing incident against potential Serb returnees

The United Nations has strongly condemned a rock-throwing incident during a visit last week of prospective Serb returnees to their pre-war homes.

The UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), along with the international force for Kosovo (KFOR) decried the incident, which took place on 7 November near the town of Grmovo in the Viti/Vitina Municipality during a United Methodist Committee on Relief-sponsored “go-and-see” visit.

According to the UN Mission, a group of Albanian males deliberately disrupted the convoy of vehicles by throwing rocks and eggs, breaking windows of several vehicles and slightly injuring a UN police officer and one male Serb returnee.

"This incident goes against the very fabric of progress here in Kosovo and does not indicate the unwillingness of the vast majority of the citizens to support minority returns," said Pasqualino Verdecchia, UNMIK regional administrator for Gjilan/Gnjilane.

UN and Kosovo police, and KFOR are investigating the incident. Police temporarily apprehended at least one individual for questioning.