PRESS RELEASE - 20.03.2013.

20. March 2013.

On March 13, 2013, during a visit to the flooded areas, the Coordination Body of the Government of the Republic of Serbia for the Municipalities of Presevo, Bujanovac and Medvedja was notified by Nagip Arifi, the Mayor of Bujanovac, on the situation that was caused when the Serbian Army patrol had caught, at a prohibited spot on the administrative line, several people trying to cross the line with their cattle. The President of the Coordination Body contacted the responsible persons at the military base near the village of Konculj and was, on that occasion, informed about the details of the incident.

“I was informed that several persons had tried to cross the administrative line at an unexpected place for it. On that occasion, they were stopped by the Army patrol, which called the police and judicial authorities. I was told that those that had been caught in the act of crossing the administrative line explained that they hadn’t done it intentionally. Given that the offense was committed, the police drew up a report and court authorities imposed fines. Also, the cattle was returned to their owners, "said Mr. Stankovic.

He explained that right after receiving the information, he informed Mayor Arifi about the details, whereas Mayor Arifi held a meeting with the leader of the local community of Končulj.

“This is surely not the issue of abusing the citizens, but the issue of a responsible behavior of the Serbian Army, whose task is to protect the administrative line from illegal crossings”, said the President of the Coordination Body and stressed that there was no room for manipulating with the thesis about the mistreatment of the residents Konculj.

“There is no need for this kind of intrusion and creation of problems where there are none. Things are clear, the laws must be respected and they apply to everyone equally. My advice is that the villagers ought not to be subjected to political manipulations for the sake of someone's goals that won’t bring them a better life. I will visit the residents of this village during my next trip to South Serbia, when I will talk with them about improvement in their lives, said Mr. Stankovic.