As calm as a Saturday night in Jelling

On the road connecting Mitrovica to Zubin Potok, the drivers will not have a reason to slow down anymore when approaching the checkpoint held by Danish soldiers. On the 29th of October, everything was removed: tents, barbwires, watchtower.

This withdrawal is a symbol that calm and tranquillity are back in both roadside villages. On one side is Zupç with Serbian population, on the other is Qaber, inhabited by Albanians. On either side of the road, all are unanimous on the checkpoint withdrawal. “We aren’t worried at all, on the contrary” assures a retired Zupc inhabitant.

“We’re looking toward the future” says Driton Velesi, a 28 year old inhabitant of Qaber and father of two children. “We don’t need this check point anymore”, Veseli continues confidently, “I’m sure that it will have no reason to return.”

“A few months ago people from Zupç needed to make a huge detour to reach Mitrovica without taking the road that crosses Albanian towns. It seems to me that is over with today” explains sergeant Jasper Tholstrup, Camp Jelling squad leader. “The situation is very very calm...”

Since the camp Jelling withdrawal, the KFOR Danish battalion still maintains regular patrols in the area. “If needed, we can be on site in less than 20 minutes” guarantees Sergeant Tholstrup.

Nevertheless the situation seems as calm as the night. “It’s worst than a Saturday night in Jelling!!!” a Danish soldier would have said, who has watched hours upon hours the still surrounding from the watch tower. For the non-specialist, Jelling is a small Danish village where nothing much happens. This explains the checkpoint name: Camp Jelling … It couldn’t have been a better symbol of today’s tranquillity in this area.