“At a time when Orthodox Christians around the world are preparing to celebrate the day of birth of Jesus Christ, Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija are denied the right to rejoice in Christmas, to hold their ceremony/prayers and to bring in the Christmas Log,” Mayor of Mitrovica North, Goran Rakic said in a press statement, Radio Mitrovica reported.

“Every holiday in Đakovica turns into a promotion of pure hatred towards everything that is Serbian. This year is no different.

Serbian Government Office for Kosovo Deputy Director, Dusan Kozarev said that conditions for sustainable return of internally displaced persons from Kosovo over the last two decades were very bad, Serbian media reported.

Kozarev made these remarks on Friday, at the meeting of “Skopje Initiative” in Podgorica, supported by the UNHCR and OSCE Mission in Kosovo.

Darko Tasic, displaced Serb from Prizren, arrested in Brnjak on Wednsday, was sent to one month detention, following the proposal of the EULEX Special Prosecutor for war crimes, Paul Flynn, Kontakt plus radio reported.

Tasic is suspected of committing the war crime against the civilian population, as he as reserved member of the police with several other individuals, allegedly burned down and looted Albanian houses in the village of Mala Krusa, nearby Orahovac, Kontakt plus radio further reported.

Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns said in a meeting with the Slovenian Ambassador in Pristina, Bojan Bertoncelj that concrete steps are missing in resolving the minority issues, among them the most important is the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities (ASM), KIM Radio reported.

“The beginning of the establishment of the ASM opens a door to continue dialogue in Brussels, and we expect the ASM to be established as it was agreed in Brussels,” Jevtic further said.

Deputy Director of the Office for Kosovo and Metohija Dusan Kozarev met today Nils Melzer, the Special Rapporteur of the UN Human Rights Council on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, reports RTK2.

During the meeting, Melzer was informed about the violations of the human rights of Serbs and other non-Albanians in Kosovo. Melzer is in the process of preparing a report for the UN Human Rights Council and is on a several-day visit to Serbia, reports RTK2.

The Serbian Government Office for Kosovo issued a press release yesterday strongly protesting over the legal violence against Saša Aranđelović, Dejan Urošević and Goran Savković, arrested on October 22 at Jarinje administrative crossing point due to alleged suspicion they were transporting explosive materials, TV Most reported.

There is absolutely no alternative to working together, First Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has told the OSCE Mediterranean Conference, Tanjug agency reported.

The current refugee and migrant situation calls for unabated attention, efficiency and, above all, solidarity of all relevant actors, Dacic said as he addressed the gathering in Palermo, Italy.

The Serbian List says that Pristina’s actions at administrative crossings show an obvious attempt to prevent IDPs from central Serbia to vote in Kosovo, TV Most reports.

The List urges the authorities to free all administrative crossings and enable unhindered voting and to stop interfering in the election process, reports TV Most.

President of the Committee on Kosovo and Metohija of the Serbian Parliament Milovan Drecun says that the arrest of Bogdan Mitrović in Mushtishtë/Mušutište is an example of intimidation, and a message to the expelled Serbs not to return to Kosovo.

- This is an example of classical intimidation in the area that was ethnically cruelly cleared of the Serb population, and this is a message for everyone, do not go back to the homes from which you have been expelled - Drecun told RTS.

Bogdan Mitrović (74) from Sopina was arrested in Suharekë / Suva Reka by being taken out of a group of displaced Serbs who visited their houses and the Holy Virgin's Church in Mušutište, reports Kontakt plus radio.

Special forces of the Kosovo police searched the bus that brought them, and arrested Mitrović. Mitrović was charged of serious crimes and war crimes. The police took him to Prizren, reports the radio.

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