BELGRADE DISMISSES UNMIK'S CLAIMS THAT IT KNEW ABOUT CUSTOMS POINTS

BELGRADE, April 17 (Hina) - Yugoslav and Serbian authorities on Tuesday dismissed claims by the U.N. Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) that Belgrade had been informed about the setting up of customs points on the border between Serbia and Kosovo, condemning the setting up of two such points. The Serbian government issued a statement saying it had not been "officially informed or consulted" regarding the introduction of customs control in the villages of Rudnice and Jerinje. The government claims it has learned of the customs points from the media and adds the act "violates domestic and international legal regulations, particularly the Council of Europe's Resolution 1244 on Kosovo." Yugoslav customs administration director Vladan Begovic said the institution had no contact with the UNMIK nor was it authorised to approve the setting up of customs points. The customs administration expects the Yugoslav government and the UNMIK to reach "some kind of agreement" on regulating customs control and trade with Kosovo, he said. (hina) rml