Updates on Libyan war/Stop NATO news: July 27, 2011

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NATO’s Libyan Air War: Almost 17,000 Air Missions, 6,285 Strike Sorties

OPEC Won’t “Give NATO Carte Blanche To Bomb Oil-Producing Countries”

Libya: Catholic Bishop Condemns NATO’s Bombing Of Food Depot

Kosovo: NATO Camp Firebombed

Serbian Police On Combat Readiness As NATO Helicopters Transport Kosovo Police

U.S. AFRICOM Commander Meets With Egyptian Junta Leader In Cairo

China Warns U.S. Against Deploying Spy Planes Along Its Coastline

U.S. Planning To Maintain Military Bases In Afghanistan?

Poland Pushes West’s Eastern Partnership In Caucasus, Ex-USSR

Armenian Defense And Foreign Ministers At NATO Headquarters

U.S. Warship Departs Estonian Capital After Five-Day Visit

Kosovo On Verge Of Armed Conflict

Sweden: Protest Held Outside Base Used For NATO Training

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NATO’s Libyan Air War: Almost 17,000 Air Missions, 6,285 Strike Sorties

http://www.nato.int/nato_static/assets/pdf/pdf_2011_07/20110727_110727-oup-update.pdf

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
July 27, 2011

NATO and Libya
Allied Joint Force Command NAPLES, SHAPE, NATO HQ

….

Over the past 24 hours, NATO has conducted the following activities associated with Operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR:

Air Operations

Since the beginning of the NATO operation (31 March 2011, 06.00GMT) a total of 16,689 sorties, including 6,285 strike sorties, have been conducted.

Sorties conducted 26 JULY: 134

Strike sorties conducted 26 JULY: 46

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OPEC Won’t “Give NATO Carte Blanche To Bomb Oil-Producing Countries“

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/07/27/53777539.html

Voice of Russia
July 27, 2011

OPEC says no to NATO bombing

OPEC will not increase oil production as long as NATO continues to bomb Libya reported the Minister of Energy and Petroleum of Venezuela Rafael Ramirez, who is a member of OPEC.

“We can not give NATO carte blanche to bomb oil-producing countries,” he said.

Ramirez warned oil producers of the possibility of the repetition of the events of 1998, when in the wake of the economic crisis, the Asian oil market was so saturated that the price fell below the level of 10 dollars per barrel.

The Venezuelan minister believes that the economically developed countries deliberately try to destabilize the countries in OPEC because of those advocating a fair price for oil.

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Libya: Catholic Bishop Condemns NATO’s Bombing Of Food Depot

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=11167

Catholic Culture
July 27, 2011

Libya: bishop denounces NATO bombing of food store

Libya’s leading prelate – -a staunch critic of the NATO military intervention in Libya – has decried the bombing of a food store.

“A few days ago, NATO warplanes hit a food store just outside Tripoli, which contained oil, pasta, tomato sauce,” said Bishop Giovanni Martinelli, the apostolic vicar of Tripoli. “A river of oil came out of the warehouse, which was destroyed. I know they have also hit a social center. By what right does one hit a food center?”

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Kosovo: NATO Camp Firebombed

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=07&dd=27&nav_id=75648

Beta News Agency/B92
July 27, 2011

Checkpoint in northern Kosovo set on fire

JARINJE: The checkpoint of Jarinje on the administrative line between Kosovo and central Serbia has been set on fire, reports said.

“A group of several dozen young men” was identified in reports as the perpetrators that set the checkpoint facilities on fire.

KFOR helicopters are flying over the area, while media crews are being evacuated.

Beta news agency reports that shots from automatic weapons were heard, and that Molotov cocktails were also thrown at a nearby KFOR camp, after which an explosion was heard.

Thick black smoke was seen rising from that area, according to this.

The attackers were described as “young men wearing hoods”.

Several hundred people are at the checkpoint.

According to reports, the young men were Serbs who came “from the direction of Kosovska Mitrovica”. They asked those gathered at the administrative line post to step away, and then started to demolish and burn the facilities.

…

Serbia’s state television RTS is reporting that Minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanović and Belgrade Kosovo talks team chief Borislav Stefanović, who were at Brnjak, are now headed to Jarinje.

The crisis in northern Kosovo started late on Monday when the Kosovo Albanian authorities decided to attempt to take over Jarinje and Brnjak.

Speaking at Brnjak earier in the day, Serbian officials called on KFOR to honor an agreement reached on Tuesday, that was supposed to diffuse the flare-up in tensions and violence.

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http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=07&dd=27&nav_id=75647

Beta News Agency/Tanjug News Agency
July 27, 2011

Serbian officials call on KFOR to respect agreement

ZUPČE: Serbian officials today in Kosovo called on KFOR to restore the previous arrangement at administrative checkpoints of Jarinje in Brnjak in the Serb north.

Local Serbs there have been blocking traffic in protest on the Priština-Ribariće road leading to Brnjak.

Stefanović stressed that KFOR violated an agreement reached on Tuesday, and that the condition was for the two administrative line checkpoints to be managed as was the case before the Kosovo police, KPS, tried to use its Rosu unit to take them over three days ago.

“The situation on the Brnjak and Jarinje crossings must be as it was before. What they have done at Brnjak is an attempt to install the institutions of Priština on this crossing which they refer to as a ‘border’ crossing. It is not, and it never will be. They wish to do the same at Jarinje,” he warned.

Stefanović emphasized that the only way to solve the problem was for those who entered the checkpoint outside of the agreement, illegally, in order to unilaterally change the situation on the ground and thus prejudice the outcome of the Belgrade-Priština dialogue to leave there as soon as possible.

The Serbian official told the local Serbs gathered to hear him that both Bogdanović and himself demanded from the KFOR commander that the Kosovo customs workers and border police vacate the checkpoint facilities as soon as possible.

“If this does not happen, we will all stay here together,” Stefanović said, and warned that the situation was “serious”.

Goran Bogdanović also addressed the Serbs to tell them that the state will never abandon them or allow for “anyone to unilaterally change the reality and the situation on the ground”.

“We will stand with you and we are firm in our determination to defend what’s ours. We are not asking for what belongs to others, we are defending our own, and we must be persistent and firm in that,” said the minister.

He added that he will continue his talks with KFOR’s representatives, because they were an “organization” deployed in the province in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

But Bogdanović noted that KFOR “seems to be ready to violate that resolution at this point”.

The minister however expressed his belief that the situation at the two checkpoints would be restored to how it was three days ago.

Serb members of the KPS and EULEX customs were previously in charge at the administrative line.

“We will not give up on that goal, and let nobody doubt that,” was Bogdanović’s message.

Bogdanović and Stefanović were accompanied by SPC Bishop Teodosije, the head of the Kosovska Mitorovica District, and mayors of Serb towns in northern Kosovo.

Close to where the Serbs blocked the roads is a Portuguese KFOR unit, while the Kosovo Albanian customs officers moved their static booth “somewhat closer to the southern (ethnic Albanian) part of Kosovska Mitrovica”, reported Tanjug news agency.

Meanwhile Beta’s reporter at Brnjak said that 15 ethnic Albanians, members of the “Kosovo customs and border police” were flown in this morning by helicopter.

They told reporters that they were in the area of the town of Đakovica when they were ordered to leave, without being told where they were headed.

They added they were “scared”, and that they thought they were being taken to a crossing in an ethnic Albanian area.

There are also Serb members of the KPS at Brnjak, regulating traffic and performing other duties, said the news agency.

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Serbian Police On Combat Readiness As NATO Helicopters Transport Kosovo Police

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=07&dd=27&nav_id=75645

Tanjug News Agency
July 27, 2011

Police raise combat readiness along administrative line

ŠIMANOVCI: Interior Minister Ivica Dačić has said that all Serbian police units deployed along the administrative line with Kosovo have raised their combat readies level.

“The night went relatively peacefully in Kosovo, but today we have received information that KFOR helicopters were used to transfer members of the Kosovo police to the Brnjak and Jarinje checkpoints,” Dačić said in Šimanovci on Wednesday.

He explained that it was unclear at this point whether this was yet another attempt to take over the administrative line crossings, and that the only information he had was that the units were transfered in KFOR helicopters.

He said the NATO-led force was a UN (mandate) mission that “cannot take part in such moves by the so-called government of Kosovo”.

Awaiting further developments, the minister explicitly blamed the Priština authorities for the tension in northern Kosovo.

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http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=07&dd=27&nav_id=75643

Serbia requests UN Security Council session on Kosovo

BELGRADE: In the wake of this week’s flare-up of tension and violence in northern Kosovo, Serbia has asked for a UN Security Council session dedicated to the problem.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Belgrade confirmed this for Beta news agency on Wednesday.

Serbia is yet to receive an answer from New York to the request, the ministry said.

Extraordinary sessions of the Council are called by the country holding the one-month presidency.

In July, that country is Germany.

Should the session be called, Serbia will be represented by her Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremić.

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http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=07&dd=27&nav_id=75644

Russia reacts to crisis, accuses Priština

MOSCOW: Russia reacted to the worsening situation in the northern, Serb parts of Kosovo to accuse the Kosovo Albanian authorities of being responsible for the crisis.

“We consider the provocations of Albanian authorities in Kosovo to be destabilizing the situation in the province – which is volatile as it is, and to be increasing tensions and undermining the negotiating process between Belgrade and Priština,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on Wednesday.

Moscow now expects competent representatives of the international community – the UN and EU above all – to undertake necessary measures, and “control ambitions of the Kosovo authorities”.

“All contentious issues should be solved through negotiations and in line with UNSC Resolution 1244,” the Russian MFA statement said.

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U.S. AFRICOM Commander Meets With Egyptian Junta Leader In Cairo

http://www.almasryalyoum.com/en/node/480746

Al-Masry Al-Youm
July 26, 2011

Tantawy meets with commander of US Africa Command
Dalia Othman

Field Marshal Hussein Tantawy, president of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, met on Tuesday with General Carter Ham, commander of the United States Africa Command, who is heading a delegation to Cairo.

The meeting addressed issues of mutual interest, the latest political and economic developments in the region, Egypt’s role as a key partner in peace-keeping and the various challenges that face the African continent.

General Ham asserted his country’s interest in learning Egypt’s vision on African affairs, enhancing cooperation between Egypt…in Africa.

Egyptian Chief of Staff Sami Annan also met with Ham and discussed military cooperation between Egypt and the United States, the coordination of joint training in Africa and the exchange of political, economic and military expertise with African countries so as to achieve regional security in the Middle East and Africa.

The meeting was attended by leaders of the armed forces and the US ambassador to Egypt.

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China Warns U.S. Against Deploying Spy Planes Along Its Coastline

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90055445?China%20warns%20U.S.%20to%20stop%20monitoring%20its%20coastline%20with%20spy%20planes

All Headline News
July 27, 2011

China warns U.S. to stop monitoring its coastline with spy planes

China has demanded that the United States respect its sovereignty and security interests if it wants to keep its relations with Asia’s biggest economy unaffected.

Beijing’s warning came just hours after Taiwan accused Chinese aircraft of violating its airspace while chasing a U.S. U-2 reconnaissance jet.

…

Speaking to the Global Times, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman said, “We want the United States to take concrete measures to boost a healthy and stable development of military relations.” The ministry also urged Washington to stop such flights, which it described as a major obstacle to good relations, adding that they had seriously harmed mutual trust between them.

Despite the warning, the U.S.’ chairman of joint chiefs of staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, is adamant of continue such operations in international airspace. “The Chinese would see us move out of there,” he said. “We’re not going to do that, from my perspective. These reconnaissance flights are important,” Mullen added.

This is not the first time China has warned U.S. over monitoring its coastline with such flights. The two countries have been at loggerheads since several decades. In 2001, the two engaged in a major diplomatic row when an American spy plane collided with Chinese jet near Hainan island, killing a Chinese pilot. In revenge, China detained the American plane crew for 11 days.

The military relations between the two nations severed further when U.S. considered arms sales to Taiwan, which China still considers as part of its territory. Washington is expected to make a decision on whether to sell 66 F-16 jets to Taiwan in October this year.

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U.S. Planning To Maintain Military Bases In Afghanistan?

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/07/26/53753585.html

Voice of Russia
July 26, 2011

US military bases in Afghanistan: to be or not to be?
Andrei Ptashnikov

The new US Ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker has made a special declaration in Kabul about the alleged deployment of US military bases in that country.

The essence of this declaration is that the USA does not even think about establishing permanent military bases in Afghanistan after the withdrawal of its troops from that country in 2014. The ambassador stressed that there is no reason to fear that such bases may be used for putting military pressure on or even interfering in the internal affairs of countries bordering Afghanistan. Those countries are Iran and Pakistan and it is common knowledge that the USA’s relations with those countries are rather tense at present.

We wonder why Crocker decided to touch upon this subject in the early days of his period in office. Does he mean to confirm the USA’s peaceful plans in the region? He does, in a way, but this is obviously not the only reason. There have been a lot of rumours recently that the USA will not completely withdraw from Afghanistan even after 2014. The USA has not managed to defeat the Taliban even after almost ten years of war and it is unlikely that this objective will be achieved within the remaining three years. Who will control the country after the departure of US and NATO troops? Most experts admit that the Afghan army and security forces are incapable of establishing and maintaining law and order in the country so far. The current President Hamid Karzai is not a very strong political figure either, which is proved by the recent assassinations of his close associates.

In this case, is it possible that the Taliban can return to power as the best organized force in the country? It is possible and the White House is aware of this. A number of informed sources have leaked that the USA and the Taliban are carrying out secret talks on the future of Afghanistan after the full withdrawal of the troops of the international coalition from that country. If such talks are really in progress and if they are a success, can America trust the Taliban? Most likely no and Washington realizes this.

So what choice does the USA have to ensure that all its huge financial costs and human losses over 10 years of Afghan war were not in vain? It seems that there is very little choice. One option is to declare, as time gets closer to 2014, that the full withdrawal of American troops from the country is postponed until later. In that case the White House will not fulfil its promise and will confirm its helplessness in Afghanistan again. It is also unknown how long the war will have to last in that case because no one has ever managed to defeat that country or to impose one’s will on it in the course of its long history.

This means that the second option is more acceptable for America, which is establishing large US military bases in Afghanistan before US and NATO troops leave the country. This can be done, for example, on Hamid Karzai’s request. In that case all decencies will be observed, and the situation in that country will remain under control, and it will be easier to watch over uncooperative Iran. The White House can hardly fail to consider this option, no matter how vigorously the new US ambassador to Afghanistan denies this. There is no smoke without fire.

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Poland Pushes West’s Eastern Partnership In Caucasus, Ex-USSR

http://www.eurasianet.org/node/63953

STRATFOR
Juky 26, 2011

Poland’s Push for Influence in the Caucasus

Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski began a six-day tour of the South Caucasus on July 25 that will take him to Azerbaijan from July 25 to 26, Georgia from July 26 to 27 and Armenia from July 27 to 29. The tour is meant to advance the European Union’s Eastern Partnership (EP) program, which aims to boost the bloc’s cooperation with six former Soviet states (Belarus, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan) on the European Union’s eastern periphery.

…The more tangible effect of the trip may be its domestic political significance ahead of general elections in October, demonstrating to the Polish public that the government is not soft on Russia. However, Warsaw hopes the trip will advance its own interests and serve as a small and symbolic step to weaken Russia’s grip over these countries.

Poland currently holds the European Union’s rotating presidency and has put strengthening the EP — which to this point has been limited in terms of scope and resources — at the top of its agenda. In line with this mission, Warsaw has focused on courting the three eastern European countries in the EP program that are on Poland’s periphery, especially Belarus and Ukraine (both countries where Poland has historic cultural influence). In Belarus, Poland has supported political opposition groups, and in Ukraine, Warsaw has played a leading role in trying to broker an association agreement and free trade agreement between the EU and Kiev. These moves and others by Poland are intended to counter the Russian resurgence and Moscow’s growing influence in these countries.

The three Caucasus countries of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia have also been subject to Russia’s resurgence, but until this point have not received as much attention from Poland as part of the EP effort compared to the eastern European countries. This is something which Warsaw hopes to address via Komorowski’s weeklong tour…

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan represents the pivot of the South Caucasus and is therefore the key country in the region for the West. Azerbaijan’s importance comes from both its location — it borders Russia and Iran in strategic areas — as well as its significant energy wealth. The latter has caused Azerbaijan to be heavily courted by the West to participate in energy projects like the Nabucco pipeline as a means of diversification from Russia’s energy grip. For this reason, Moscow has worked to block such projects…Poland has recently demonstrated an interest in reviving these talks, brokering a deal for the European Commission to begin negotiations with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan (another potential supplier of Nabucco) on the energy project in September and, though this does not resolve the numerous challenges facing Nabucco, it does restart the discussion, which is itself important.

For Azerbaijan, Poland’s growing role in the EP also represents a unique opportunity. Azerbaijan is looking to diversify its military ties away from its traditional links to Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Kazakhstan. It is in the process of attempting to build up its military, but the former Soviet military suppliers have capped what sort of equipment they are willing to supply. Baku is also interested in becoming more compliant to NATO standards. But in order to do this, Baku has to find a supplier willing to go against Russia’s wishes to supply weapons to the country. According to STRATFOR sources, Azerbaijan has been in discussions with Israel but is also looking for a NATO member to fill this role. Though Poland has not publicly stated any interest in this, it is the country that has been bold enough to stand up to Moscow in other areas, so they could potentially be the one Baku looks to in this matter.

Georgia

Georgia is the most pro-Western country in the Caucasus and hopes to eventually join Western institutions like the European Union and NATO…According to STRATFOR sources in Moscow, there have been rumors that the West — particularly the United States — wants to resume arms exports to Georgia, but Washington knows it would be too bold of a move against Moscow. Like the situation in Azerbaijan, there have been backchannel discussions that a third party could be such a supplier, such as Israel or Poland. Poland would likely be very careful in its consideration of such a move given the response from Russia, but Warsaw does want to show its support of Georgia in the security sphere in some way. Komorowski’s visit is therefore intended to show Georgia it has not lost its EU allies, and Poland’s regional presence and relationship with the United States could be a factor in making sure Tbilisi is on the European Union’s agenda.

Armenia

Armenia is the most difficult state for Poland and the West to woo, as it is essentially a Russian client state. Armenia hosts a Russian military base and Moscow owns much of Armenia’s energy and economic infrastructure. Therefore any cooperation between European Union and Armenia will be largely superficial, but economic deals could be a lever for Poland and the European Union to build a presence in the country over the long term.

Poland has a number of interests in increasing cooperation with the three Caucasus countries but also many significant challenges. Still, the EP is meant as an avenue for the European Union to build soft power and long-term influence in eastern states, and this is something Poland has seized as an avenue through which to advance its own interests, a goal which will face no shortage of opposition from Moscow.

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Armenian Defense And Foreign Ministers At NATO Headquarters

http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/news_76756.htm

North Atlantic Treaty Organization
July 27, 2011

Armenian ministers visit NATO

The Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of Armenia, Mr. Edward Nalbandyan and Mr. Seyran Ohanyan visited NATO Headquarters on Wednesday 27 July 2011 to address the North Atlantic Council.

They also met the Deputy Secretary General, Mr. Claudio Bisognero.

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U.S. Warship Departs Estonian Capital After Five-Day Visit

http://www.eucom.mil/english/fullstory.asp?article=USS-Carr-Departs-Tallinn-Estonia

United States European Command
July 27, 2011

USS Carr Departs Tallinn, Estonia
Ensign Brian T. Lance, USS Carr (FFG 52) Public Affairs

TALLINN, Estonia: USS Carr (FFG 52) completed a five-day port visit to Tallinn, Estonia, July 26, as part of a three-month deployment supporting theater security cooperation engagements throughout the Baltic nations.

While in port, Carr’s crew held a reception onboard hosted by Robert Gilchrist, the American Charge de’ Affaires ad interim to Estonia…

“The bond between the U.S. and Estonia remains strong,” said Gilchrist during the reception. “Estonian forces worked with us in Iraq and Afghanistan. They do big things with the resources they have.”

…

Carr is homeported out of Norfolk, Va., and is on a three month deployment supporting maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of responsibility.

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Kosovo On Verge Of Armed Conflict

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/07/26/53771125.html

Voice of Russia
July 26, 2011

3 Serbs wounded in clashes near Zubin Potok in Kosovo

Three Serbs have been wounded in clashes in the village of Zubin Potok in the north of Kosovo, Radio KIM that broadcasts in Kosovo and Metohija reports. At about 4:00 p.m. local time, the sounds of gunfire were heard near the village of Varage. At least one Kosovo policeman was reportedly wounded. Controversial reports are coming from Kosovo.

The Tanjug News Agency quotes Milena Cvetkovic, the head doctor of a hospital at Kosovska Mitrovica, as saying that no new patients have been admitted since Tuesday morning. At the same time, Serbia’s Minister for Kosovo and Metohija Goran Bogdanovic has confirmed that the clashes did take place and that there are casualties among Serbs.

The Serbian television says that the Jarine border crossing in Kosovo has been shut. Reports about clashes near Zubin Potok have prompted local Serbs to seal off the road to the Brnjak border checkpoint. Earlier, Kosovo special task police made a failed attempt to storm the checkpoint, Mr. Boganovic said.

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http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/07/27/53775277.html

Voice of Russia
July 26, 2011

Kosovo on verge of conflict

Three Serbs were wounded in clashes with riot police in Kosovo near the village of Zubin Potok. According to the local radio station K.I.M. the situation in northern Kosovo escalated on Monday evening, when Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci ordered the police to establish control over two checkpoints along the dividing line in central Serbia.

Normally the responsibility for these checkpoints is handled by the European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, EULEX.

One checkpoint was seized but later abandoned by Kosovo police commandos. The path to another checkpoint was blocked by local Serbs.

Tuesday afternoon, after the intervention of NATO international forces under the command of the Kosovo Force, KFOR, the situation seemed to have calmed down. But later it became apparent that it had not.

According to Serbian media on Tuesday the border crossing at Yasmin was closed. After reports of the clash near Zubin Potok, Kosovo Serbs also blocked the road leading to the border crossing at Brnyak.

The Voice of Russia talked to the head of the administration of Zubin Potok, Slavish Ristic, in Serbian and he had the following to say: “Zubin Potok still remains tense. People fear for their safety. The reasons for concern are the actions that members of the special forces of the Kosovo Police have taken.”

This morning the special division of the Kosovo police and members of the Rosa (Dew) Special Forces Unit seized the border checkpoint in the village of Brnyak. After lengthy negotiations which started at 13:00 hours between representatives of Belgrade, Pristina and KFOR, and representatives of “Rosa”, the border crossing was handed back to KFOR forces.

A half hour later, however, a different group of “Rosa” Forces again attempted to penetrate into Zubin Potok. Members of the Special Forces Unit opened fire on unarmed civilians who attempted to block the road. Fortunately, there were no casualties.

Currently the reports coming out of Kosovo are conflicting in nature. At approximately 16:00 Belgrade time (18.00 GMT) gunfire was heard near the village of Varaga. At least one Kosovo policeman was injured.

The chief doctor of the Kosovo-Mitrovitsa hospital, Milena Cvetkovic told the Tanjug News Agency that there had been no admissions to the hospital during the morning. However, the Minister for Kosovo-Metohija affairs, Goran Bogdanovic, confirmed that clashes had in fact taken place and that there were Serbs among the victims.

The head of Kosovska-Mitrovitsya Region, Radenko Nedelkovic, reported that on Tuesday night negotiations between the northern Kosovo Serbian authorities and the representatives of NATO forces (KFOR) had taken place.

The Serbs insist that the Albanian leadership withdraw its police commandos and special forces from the border areas. At the same time there are reports coming in that the Albanian special forces have already left the checkpoint they captured and moved in the direction of Kosovo-Mitrovitsya, and are now in the village of Zhupche.

According to other reports Minister Goran Bogdanovic and the Political Director for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia, Borislav Stefanovic, had negotiated with the commander of KFOR Erhard Bühler.

Observers say that the recent relations between Belgrade and Pristina have seriously deteriorated. Last week, the Kosovo government imposed a ban on the import of goods from Serbia, citing the decision by Serbian authorities not to recognize Kosovo’s customs seal and thereby prevent the importation of goods from Kosovo into Serbia. The dispute between Belgrade and Pristina had led to the disruption of another round of talks which were to have taken place on practical issues.

…

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Sweden: Protest Held Outside Base Used For NATO Training

http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/07/26/53771632.html

Voice of Russia
July 26, 2011

Pacifists hold protest campaign in Sweden

More than 200 pacifists from 17 countries gathered in Sweden to host a campaign of civil disobedience.

About 170 of them got into the territory of a test range in the northern town of Vidsel to express their protest against militarism.

The Vidsel test range is one of NATO`s major platforms for testing new military tactics.

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