EU Office: Close tracking two Kosovars' arrest case from Serbia

Blerim Maqasten and Berat Mejuani on Sunday due to dense fog, have lost their way and moved from Kosovo territory to Serbia's territory.

They have been arrested in the village of Mirovc, near the Merdare border crossing, by Serbian authorities, and then sent to maintenance.

Police in Podujevo have announced that Berat Mejuani has been released, meanwhile, against Blerim Maqastena, the detention measure has been imposed for a month, with the possibility of continuing.

That's because PSDI's Asinist in Podujevo, a firearm has been found, with Kosovo permission.

Yes, Berat Mejuani has been released, while Blerim Maqasten has remained in custody for 30 days”, announced Police Station Commander in Podujevo Isaac Ejupi.

The European Union's office in Kosovo has declared for Gazeta Express that it is closely following developments about the arrest of two Kosovars in Serbia.

In response to the EU office, Kosovo and Serbian authorities must co-operate closely in this case.

“We are aware of Kosovo citizens arrested over the weekend, and are closely monitoring developments. Judicial authorities in Serbia and Kosovo must co-operate closely in accordance with dialogue agreements on processing and investigating further alleged crimes”, the EU Office in Kosovo's response to Express, says.

Meanwhile, Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti has declared today that Kosovo's liaison office in Belgrade is following procedures and very soon there will be more detailed information.

It's important not to generalize when such things happen. We've dealt with that case. For the latter, our liaison office in Belgrade has followed the procedures and sent information to the two Kosovo citizens who were allegedly arrested in the Serbian part and I believe we will soon have more detailed information. We're following our official paths through the Interconnecting Office in collaboration with our partners”, Hoti has declared.

Kosovo police have reported to Express that at the moment of receiving information about the arrest of two Kosovars in Serbia, immediate action has been taken, contacting the neighbouring state.

After receiving information that yesterday afternoon, two people near the village of Miroc-Merdar may have been disoriented as a result of the mist and made their way into Serbian territory, Kosovo police have taken immediate action and are interested in contacting the other side at the border, where competent border crossing officials with the neighbouring state have received confirmation from them that the two Kosovo Albanian persons have been detained by Serbian police authorities, handling their case, and, according to them, cannot provide more information because of the more key procedures, said police spokesman Dau Hoxha.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora through a communique has reacted to the arrest of two Kosovars by Serbian authorities.

The MPJD's response reportedly has prompted the application to the European Union Office in Serbia concerning the delay in clarifying this case.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspore (MPJD) of the Republic of Kosovo, since accepting news of the Serbian police arrest of two Kosovo citizens in the village of Mirovc, near the Merdare border crossing, has consistently committed to obtaining information about the case. Despite the continued requests made through the Kosovo Liaison Office in Belgrade, the Serbian side has delayed official information. MPJD through the Kosovo Interconnection Office in Belgrade has raised concerns and filed complaints with the European Union Office in Serbia about the delay in clarifying this case”, the MPJD '%s' reaction said.

This is also a follow-up testimony, which in relation to the state of Kosovo, Serbia is not co-operative, consistently made provocations and is shown that it is not really interested in dialogue and good neighborhoods. In the Brussels dialogue, official channels of co-operation and communication have been established between the two states, including bilateral judicial assistance, which Serbia is violating in the province”, it says in response.