UN mission appeals for calm and restraint after incident in northern Kosovo

The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) is calling for calm and restraint after an incident today near the northern city of Mitrovica that resulted in several injuries.

In a statement issued in Pristina, UNMIK said that the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) conducted an operation to remove the roadblocks in the vicinity of Rudare, north of Mitrovica, in order to improve the freedom of movement of KFOR troops in the area.

Media reports say at least three Kosovo Serbs and two NATO soldiers were wounded in the incident.

“UNMIK is concerned by reports of a number of injuries to civilians and KFOR soldiers,” the Officer-in-Charge of UNMIK, Leonid Markaryan, said.

“While we continue to wait for additional clarification of today’s events, we are in contact with all parties in an effort to calm the situation and are monitoring the developments very closely,” he added. “UNMIK is calling for calm and restraint and strongly encourages the continued dialogue.”

Mr. Markaryan also noted that KFOR has a mandate to fulfil and should be allowed to enjoy freedom of movement.

Established in 1999, UNMIK is mandated to help ensure conditions for a peaceful and normal life for all inhabitants of Kosovo and advance regional stability in the western Balkans.