BELGRADE - The Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija strongly condemns stoning of the UNHCR tents camp housing the IDP Serb returnees to the village of Zac. This vandal act is directly aimed at preventing the return of the displaced persons, and at efforts invested to facilitate their return to their centuries-old homes after a decade of exile.

Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija invites the international community and United Nations peacekeeping mission in Kosovo and Metohija to, in accordance with their mandate, prevent any further violence of the extremists towards the returnees in the southern Serbian province.

Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija has repeatedly indicated to the international community, the EULEX and the KFOR, that the extremists are using all available means to put a stop on the return of displaced and exiled persons. Therefore, the Ministry requests that the United Nations and members of civilian and military mission in the province of Kosovo and Metohija prevail with the interim government in the province, and prevent any attacks on returnees, providing the elementary security and facilitating a smooth return process.

Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija urges the returnees to the village of Zac not to allow that the incidents and the outbursts of ethnic Albanian extremists, sway them in their intention to remain in their homes. The state of Serbia will give them every possible assistance in order to facilitate their subsistence in their centuries-old homes.

Ministry for Kosovo and Metohija signals another warning that it is high time to finally create conditions for return after more than a decade, and that there cannot and must not be more excuses on that account.

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