UNMIK/PR/270
SRSG Bernard Kouchner, COMKFOR Gen. Juan Ortuno, and two members of the Interim Administrative Council--Ibrahim Rugova and Hashim Thaci--, went to the scene of a tragic mine attack today, where two Kosovo Serb men had been killed and a third injured only a few hours before.
The two Kosovo Albanian leaders joined in condemning the attack, which took place near the village of Lepina, on a dirt road crossing a farm field and linking Serb villages some 10 kilometers southwest of Pristina.
Killed in the explosion, which occurred just before 11 a.m. were Zlatko Delic and Bojan Filipovic. A third victim, Borko Filipovic, was taken to Kosovo Polje hospital in critical condition. The men, from the nearby village of Preoce, had been delivering beer when their minivan hit an anti-tank mine.
"This was outrageous and cowardly act," Dr. Kouchner said. "It was very well-targeted. Only Serbs, UNMIK Police and KFOR were using this road….But they will not succeed in destabilizing Kosovo. We will not give a victory to fascists, to the enemies of democracy."
At the scene, LDK President Ibrahim Rugova told media that "We need to work in order not to have another tragic occasion … We need to change opinions in Kosovo."
Hashim Thaci, chairman of the PDK, said the attack was a continuation of the activities of "those people who worked and are working to destabilize Kosovo," and he encouraged the joint structures to do more to create stability and "to build a common future for all citizens of Kosovo."
Dr. Kouchner, who had called members of the IAC to come to the scene in a largely Serb area, said he was proud of their appearance: "This is the beginning of something new, although we don't want to see it again. I am furious at this violence."
Today's mine attack follows a similar incident in the same general area: On 2 June, two Kosovo Serb men were killed and a woman and two small children injured when their car hit an anti-tank mine near the village of Preoce, again on a road used primarily by Serb villagers.
KFOR and UNMIK Police are investigating both incidents.