Police and Customs services performed their duties normally at the Presevo border crossing, during the clashes in Kumanovo. The buses, transporting tourists to the resorts in Greece were regularly passing. Border police denied the allegations of some media that the crossing was closed during the fiercest escalation of conflicts, which occurred between FYROM security forces and armed Albanian groups.
There is coordinated cooperation with the FYROM border police and there were no problems, confirmed an unnamed police source. “On Saturday, during the day and evening, we have recorded the high number of members of Albanian community, who in fear of escalating violence decided to temporarily move to Presevo, mainly to their relatives in the town and surrounding villages.”
“So far, no one asked help from the local government in the purpose of providing accommodation or other assistance,” confirmed Ragmi Mustafa, Mayor of Presevo, announcing readiness “to accept all persons who seek accommodation.” And Serbian Commissariat for Refugees is ready for that. Their team arrived at the scene and monitor the situation.
Albanians who fled from Kumanovo were frightened, and as they said “they are ready to return as soon as possible to their homes, if they receive guarantees for the security from the FYROM authorities.”
Readiness for receiving people fleeing from Kumanovo was expressed also by the local government in Bujanovac, where, as in Presevo, was activated the Headquarters for emergencies.
