Ministry for Communities and Returns together with Strpce Municipality did not manage to reach a compromise with the KEDS company to reconnect the electricity supply to collective centres in Brezovica, Serbian media reported.

The Ministry said in a press release that efforts to resolve the issue did not yield results, and it was said during the meeting with KEDS representatives that electricity will not be connected until tenants in collective centres pay debts from 2015 and onwards.

Collective centres in Brezovica are without electricity for six days. There are more than 200 internally displaced persons living in four collective centres, including 20 children, Radio kontakt plus reported.

The electricity was cut off over debts made 10 years ago. The Ministry for Communities and Returns told Radio kontakt plus they are working on resolving the issue, however, the problem is that KEDS (electricity supplier) is a private company.

The Ministry for Communities and Returns presented a final paper aiming to profile displaced persons. During the presentation it was noted there is a need for a better regional coordination among responsible institutions, KIM Radio reported.

The paper provides information on the needs of displaced persons such as access to health care, protection, incomes.

Kosovo Ministry for Communities and Returns, reacting to the latest wave of arson affecting haystacks belonging to the Serb returnees in Kosovo said that “such incidents indicate continuation of pressure against returnees to abandon their properties and show they are not welcome in Kosovo, which is very bad, RTV Puls reported.

The Ministry further assessed these incidents were not accidental and if someone wishes that  Serbs give up return it is not going to happen, adding they would work harder to have more returnees in Kosovo in 2018.

The Commission for the Rights and Interests of Communities and Return, chaired by Igor Simic, President of the Commission, held a session on which the main item on the agenda was the consideration of the Draft Law on the Budget for 2018 and in connection to budgetary allocations for the Ministry of Community and Return, reports KIM radio.

Insulting graffiti were written on Sunday on the wall of the house, accommodating Serbs who have returned to their place of origin, in the village of Ljubozda, nearby Istok, KIM Radio reported.

Minister for Communities and Returns, Dalibor Jevtic expressed concern over the incident and requested responsible bodies to provide better protection of Serb returnees, KIM Radio further said.

Ministry for Communities and Return reported that a door and construction material on the house of R.M. were set on fire in the village Dragoljevac, municipality of Istok, as well as construction material for the house of B.Z.

The case was reported to the police.