In Kosovo, the Russian humanitarian aid still does not miss
More than two and a half thousand kilometers, a week's journey and the last stop at the admin. border between Kosovo and central Serbia. The trucks EMERCOM of Russia standing on a narrow road are trapped in a gorge. The officers of the EU mission inspect the leading cars.
Trucks of the Russian Emergencies Ministry carrying humanitarian aid at the Yarinye checkpoint are being monitored. This block post separates Northern Kosovo from central Serbia. A month ago, clashes between KFOR forces and Kosovo Serbs took place here. Each machine is checked for a long time, approximately 15 minutes. In the column are all 25 trucks.
Two trucks were let through to the territory of Kosovo, however, as soon as the third one of Pristina arrives at the terminal, it is ordered to stop the inspection of humanitarian supplies, and also to prohibit the entry of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Alexander Konuzin, the Russian ambassador to Serbia, who accompanied the humanitarian aid, immediately explained that representatives of the EU civilian mission in Kosovo put forward impossible demands.
"Several demands were made, including the requirement that the inspection of the convoy should pass through the checkpoint under the control of the Pristina authorities. This is not acceptable for Serbia or Russia," the diplomat explained.
From Kosovo Mitrovica to the checkpoint "Yarinje" about forty kilometers, however news about the forced delay of a column carrying humanitarian aid quickly reaches the city. The inhabitants of Mitrovitsa are gathering near the famous Ibar bridge, where Serbian warriors have been on duty for five months already and barricades have been set up. Sergei Zaporozhets, president of the student union of the local Serbian university, who participated in the erection of barricades near the bridge, is sure that this political decision of Pristina clarifies and explains a lot.
“This situation shows that politicians in the European Union and in Pristina are not interested in normalizing the situation. They violate the UN resolution, they don’t allow humanitarian aid. Pristina wants to take control of things that do not belong to it,” said Zaporozhets.
Russian rescuers in the local office of the Red Cross waited in the morning. It has already developed a plan for the delivery of humanitarian supplies to the numerous Serb enclaves in Kosovo. Vesna Milenovich, the secretary general of the Serbian branch of the organization, explains: assistance must be given before the start of frost
“As winter approaches, humanitarian aid is very important for local residents. Both electric generators and warm clothes are very necessary for kindergartens, schools and hospitals. We have a worked out mechanism for distributing and delivering humanitarian supplies to all Serbian enclaves in Kosovo. which includes 50 kilograms of cereals and other products as well as warm clothes. After that, we try to provide these things for all those in need, "says Milenovich.
Negotiations are continuing with representatives of the EU civilian mission in Kosovo. However, Russian diplomats say that rescuers are likely to spend the night at the Yarinie checkpoint in cars.
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