Thousands of ethnic Serbs held a large-scale demonstration in the northern Kosovo town of Mitrovica on Tuesday, vowing never to recognize Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence from Serbia.
Addressing the rally, held under the slogan "Serbia - Yes, Independent Kosovo - Never," protest leaders said they would organize protests until Kosovo's declaration of independence was nullified by the United Nations.
Local Serb leader Dragisa Milovic said that the Serbs respect UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and want to continue cooperation with NATO-led peace-keepers and the UN mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) so that this resolution could be implemented in Kosovo.
"The Kosovo Serbs are for peace and stability in our municipalities and in the region and all problems that arise, such as the courts, railways, police, can be resolved peacefully and through talks, and a dialogue between Belgrade and UNMIK," Milovic said.
Milovic said May 11 Serbian general and local elections must be organized in Kosovo, so Serbs here can elect their legitimate representatives.
Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu is against the elections, saying Kosovo can not serve any more as an election zone for Serbia.
The demonstration was organized by the Serb National Council of Northern Kosovo. The next protest rally was announced for April 8.
Serbs also held a peaceful protest in the Gracanica enclave near the Kosovo capital Pristina. The protesters reiterated their support for the demand of more than 200 Serb members of the Kosovo Police Service that they are returned under UNMIK command.
The protesters also said that the ethnic Albanian police officers should leave the local police station and all sub-stations in Serb areas and that they are replaced by the UNMIK police.
Source:Xinhua
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