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GENERAL FARINA CALLS EVERYONE TO ACT CALMLY, AND TO PROCEED WITH DIALOG

Mitrovica South, Kosovo: Sunday, June 22nd 2014

In reference to the today’s protest organized in Mitrovica South, the Kosovo Police operated in a properly manner and was able to contain a very big protest showing great professionalism, effectiveness and capability in managing the situation in an appropriate way.

KFOR deployed with a robust posture on Austerlitz Bridge with a US company in the middle of the bridge itself and Carabinieri Units on the north side.

An additional KFOR German company, pre-deployed in the vicinity of the spot, was called in to intervene as soon as few elements started to threat or to use violence, and reinforced the already positioned troops on the ground.

General Farina explained that the main effort was to avoid inter-ethnic clashes and escalation of violence.

Kosovo Police was in the "front line” backed by EULEX units with KFOR acting as third responder to avoid contact between elements of the south being in contact in the north part of the bridge.

"I call all the local authorities in south and north Mitrovica and all the citizens to act calmly, and to proceed with dialog in order to solve the problems through clarification, meetings and negotiation” stated General Farina. "KFOR is an important actor that will continue to operate to guarantee a safe and secure environment, to support the Institutions in Kosovo and to promote the progress of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina”.