Goran Rakic

Milivoje Mihajlovic, the head of Serbian government's media office, said on Tuesday that the recent violent incidents exposed ongoing tensions in northern Kosovo which escalate every time there is a political crisis in relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

Mayors meet after series of incidents in K. Mitrovica

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- The mayors of northern and southern Kosovska Mitrovica have said that "a series of unfortunate events" had "upset people" in both parts of the town.

The northern Kosovo town is divided into its southern, ethnic Albanian, and northern, mostly Serb parts.

BELGRADE - North Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic Saturday urged the Kosovo police to immediately conduct an investigation into the recent incidents in the city and bring those responsible to justice.

Rakic warned that the incidents could be politicized, but also trigger more violence, which is why we should all condemn them, including the institutions in Pristina.

BELGRADE - Kosovska Mitrovica Mayor Goran Rakic requested the Kosovo Trust Agency (KTA) Thursday to immediately stop the announced privatization of some thirty facilities owned by the company LUX on the Serb-majority north of Kosovo-Metohija (KiM).

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - A memorial service held early Tuesday in the church of St. Dimitrije in Kosovska Mitrovica, northern Kosovo-Metohija, marked the start of commemorations of the 16th anniversary of the onset of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - The construction of houses launched by ethnic Albanians in the Brdjani neighbourhood in northern Kosovska Mitrovica that caused alarm among Serbs have been interrupted after the talks between the mayors of the southern and northern parts of the city, Goran Rakic and Agim Bahtiri.

Albanians halt controversial construction works

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA -- Construction works launched by ethnic Albanians in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica have been halted, said reports from the town in northern Kosovo.

KOSOVSKA MITROVICA - Ethnic Albanians began construction works in the Brdjani neighborhood in northern Kosovska Mitrovica on Friday morning, causing a stir among local Serbs who gathered to voice their protest.

In the meantime, an intervention unit of the Kosovo police, and EULEX police arrived at the site, says Tanjug's on-site-reporter.

BELGRADE - A protest was organized in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica Monday against announced changes in the composition of the regional police command in the four Serb-majority municipalities in the north of Kosovo-Metohija (KiM).

The accounts of the Serb-majority municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposavic and Zubin Potok in north Kosovo have been blocked after they did not hand over budgets that complied with the budget circulars set out by the Kosovo government and the ministry of finance, officials said.