The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo (MFAD) has confirmed that Kosovo citizen Hazir Haziri was arrested by Serbian authorities on September 8 at the border crossing in Merdare "during his entry into Serbian territory in a private vehicle."

Serbian authorities earlier in the day claimed he had been arrested on suspicion of "war crimes".

"Immediately after receiving information about this case, the Liaison Office of the Republic of Kosovo in Serbia has engaged through official and diplomatic channels to provide accurate and complete information on the detention of Mr. Haziri," the MFA said.

Kosovo has officially requested from Serbia to confirm Haziri's arrest and clarify the legal reasons for his detention, while the MFA once again called on Kosovo citizens to avoid traveling through Serbia.

The ministry also said that the European Union delegation to Serbia and the diplomatic representatives of the QUINT countries have been informed of Haziri's case.

"The MFA underlines the urgent need for a response by the international community to the repressive practices of the Serbian authorities, which contradict the fundamental principles of international law and international human rights conventions," the statement said.

Earlier on September 9, Serbian authorities said they had arrested a person in Merdare on suspicion of "war crimes" during the last war in Kosovo in 1998-99.

Serbia's Interior Ministry did not disclose the suspect's nationality, but identified him with the initials HH, 77 years old.

According to the Serbian Ministry of Interior, he is suspected of "in June 1999, in Podujevo, in collaboration with several members of the KLA [Kosovo Liberation Army], having shot and killed a Serbian civilian."

Serbian authorities said he has been taken into custody for 48 hours and that he will be charged.

(BalkanWeb)