Kosovo: Russian humanitarian convoy blocked at border

Belgrade/Pristina, 14 Dec. (AKI) - A 27-truck Russian convoy, carrying "humanitarian aid'' to Serbs in northern Kosovo, has been blocked at Kosovo border for the past 24 hours in a diplomatic dispute, Russian ambassador to Belgrade Aleksandar Konuzin said on Wednesday.

The convoy, carrying 300 tones of supplies for Kosovo Serbs, arrived at the border Tuesday morning, but after letting two trucks to enter Kosovo, European Union police (EULEX) stopped the other vehicles, demanding they should be accompanied by EU police.

Earlier on Tuesday, local Serbs, who oppose Kosovo independence declared by majority Albanians in 2008, blocked EULEX convoy which was to accompany Russian trucks, from reaching the border.

Konuzin, who was leading the Russian convoy, said he didn’t need EULEX escort, adding that the dispute was discussed on the “highest level” between Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and EU officials in Brussels.

Serbia’s ally Russia has blocked Kosovo independence in the United Nations Security Council and is backing Belgrade and minority Serbs in Kosovo in opposing the independence. Nevertheless, Kosovo has been recognized by over 80 countries, including the United States and 22 out of 27 EU members.

Serbs have a historic affinity with Russia, sharing Slavic roots and the Christian Orthodox faith.

EULEX spokeswoman Irina Gudeljevic has said Konuzin first asked for EULEX escort, but later changed his mind. Konuzin, on the other hand, accused EULEX of “political blackmail” and of overstepping its status neutral mandate in Kosovo.

“EULEX imposes political conditions and isn’t status neutral,” Konuzin said. “Once again, it has sided with Pristina authorities,” which Moscow and Belgrade don’t recognize, he added.

Pieter Feith, the head of the International Community Office in Pristina, disputed Konuzin’s presence in Kosovo, saying Moscow had its envoy in Pristina. He said he wasn’t sure whether Russian aid was a “propaganda trick or something else”.

Feith said there was no “humanitarian catastrophe” in Kosovo, adding he didn’t see how Russian presence could help. “We must start obeying the rules,” he said.

Kosovo Serbs have been blocking roads in northern Kosovo for the past four months in protest against placing of Kosovo police and customs at two northern border crossings, Brnjak and Jarinje.

Serbian president Boris Tadic said no humanitarian convoys should be blocked from entering Kosovo, “especially not those destined for Kosovo Serbs, who are the most endangered ethnic group in Europe today”.