PRISTINA, Kosovo, Sept. 16 (UPI) -- Kosovo's prime minister announced Friday that national police, along with EU personnel, were deployed at disputed crossings along the border with Serbia.
Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said Kosovar security forces accompanied a NATO and EU force to the Serbian border.
"The process of implementing the operational plan has successfully begun this morning," he was quoted by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as saying.
Border tensions between the countries are remnants of a trade dispute between Belgrade and Pristina. Kosovo in July sent police forces to the north of the country. Serbia wanted to the United Nations to condemn Kosovo for the deployment.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, in a statement, said both sides should settle their differences through peaceful dialogue through European channels.
"I call on all concerned to refrain from unilateral actions which could escalate tensions in the area," he said.
Edmond Mulet, the assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations, told the Security Council that he was opposed to "unilateral action" and "overheated rhetoric" that could threaten any diplomatic gains.
Serbian President Boris Tadic complained any action along the border undermined the "neutral status" of EU and NATO forces in the area, RFE/RL added.
