Serbia: EULEX no right to impose bans on Serbian officials

Serbian president Boris Tadic says that "no one" has the right to prevent Serbian citizens from entering Kosovo and accused EULEX from taking the side of Kosovo Albanians. His statement came in response to an announcement from EULEX that unannounced visits to Kosovo by Serbian officials would be prohibited.

Serbian minister for Kosovo Goran Bogdanovic said that Serbia's decision could jeopardize Belgrade's future cooperation with the EU mission.

The Kosovo daily Koha Ditore wrote that a record number of Serbian officials visited Kosovska Mitrovica, in preparation for the coming Serbian local elections. EULEX has already indicated that it would not recognize the outcome.

Bogdanovic has said that the elections in northern Kosovo would be held regardless of provocations and that they would serve to "confirm the credibility of the state of Serbia".