Russia and the EU have finally agreed to unblock a Russian Emergencies Ministry convoy carrying humanitarian aid on the border between Serbia and Kosovo, Russian Ambassador to Serbia Alexander Konuzin said on Thursday.
“A principle agreement to unblock the situation around the convoy was reached last night at the Russia-EU summit,” Konuzin said.
A total of 25 trucks carrying electric generators, blankets, clothes, food and cooking gear were blocked by the European Union Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) after rejecting an escort. The proposed escort included customs and police officers representing Kosovo, whose independence is not recognized by Russia.
In accordance with EU compromise proposal, a reduced convoy of the EU Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) will arrive at the checkpoint to accompany the column to the destination point, the Ambassador said.
It is expected that the convoy will set off at 7:00 local time (06:00 GMT).
The humanitarian cargo weighing a total of 284 metric tons is to be taken to the Red Cross department in Kosovska Mitrovica, the largest city in the predominantly Serb-populated northern Kosovo.
Another Russian convoy arrived to the city of Nis in southern Serbia on Thursday evening. Festive occasion to celebrate the meeting of convoys is scheduled for Friday.
Kosovo, a landlocked region with a population of mainly ethnic Albanians, declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008. Ethnic Serbs account as much as 10 percent of Kosovo's two-million population.
Both Serbia and Russia do not recognize Kosovo's independence.
