Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Veljko Odalovic, told RTS this morning that the closure of all shops in the north of Kosovo is a protest that should show the general public that the Serbs will not be silent.

"The Serbs have to raise their voices, they cannot be silence over Pristina’s deeds. Pristina provokes and blocks the topic of dialogue, in which, it is brought before the final act to fulfil its obligations, primarily to form the Community of Serb municipalities", notes Odalovic.

He thinks that the closure of shops will not cause harm but should be an appeal of warning.

"The international community continuously says that Pristina should abolish taxes, but Pristina does not do it because the EU does not declare seriously. This will in any case go through all the structures and ears of those who decide. They need to know with who and what they are dealing with," notes Odalovic.

Pristina wants, says Odalovic, to establish control in the north of Kosovo.

"When the tax was imposed, they said they would abolish them when we recognize Kosovo. Their story is now different, they say they want to prevent smuggling and crime. They have the least right to talk about this because that area is encroached in smuggling and crime. Those who are doing this cannot fight against it,'' says the Secretary General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to him, ordinary citizens suffer most from the introduction of taxes and among them Albanian traders also.