Strike hits Kosovo biggest mine complex Trepca

About 250 miners of the biggest mine complex in Kosovo "Trepca" started a strike on Tuesday less than 24 hours after the Kosovo assembly failed to adopted a law on the status of the mine.

The director of the mine complex, Ahmet Tmava, said the strikers gathered in the tenth horizon 650 meters deep, and demand an official explanation on the destiny of the mine.

"Actually they are not working and are asking for guarantees from officials and institutions, after the failure of resolving Trepca status last evening," said Tmava.

Kosovo Assembly intended to partially privatise the mine complex, with the Kosovo authorities holding the majority of the shares, but the draft law was rejected shortly after the vote.

Instead the assembly adopted a law on public enterprises, but excluded Trepca complex and the authorities said that Trepca requires a special law, in which the government will work on.

The initiative sparked anger in Belgrade, which claims ownership on Trepca and warned that the unilateral move would damage EU-backed efforts to normalise relations with Pristina.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008. Serbia categorically refuses to recognize its independence.

The complex of lead, zinc and silver mines which lies in northeast of Kosovo, has long been the subject of political dispute. The mines are split along ethnic lines. In the northern part of the complex ethnic Serbs are employed, and it's run by Belgrade, while the southern part employs Kosovo Albanian workers and is under the control of Pristina.

Tuesday's strike started on the southern Albanian side, though Serbs threatened on Monday that if Pristina adopts the law they will respond with a strike.

Jovan Dimkic, the Serb director of the complex in the south, warned that the passing of the disputed legislation could destabilise northern Kosovo.

In a press statement the Kosovo authorities said on Tuesday that "Trepca is in the Kosovo territory so it will be managed by its institutions as stipulated by law, in the interest of Trepca employees and the economy of Kosovo."

While Belgrade insists to have this matter in the agenda of the EU-faciliated dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, deputy "Prime Minister" Hashim Thaqi said "the future of the complex will not be discussed with any other country".

Senior officials of the Srpska list, which is a partner in the ruling coalition in Kosovo, had warned to leave the government if a law on Trepca is adopted without their consent. Endit