an hour agoVon Croamon: Hopefully in a Kosovo- Serbia
Periskopi(5 years ago)
(5 years ago)European Parliament rapporteur for Kosovo Violet von Cremon said local elections in Kosovo were peaceful, pluralistic and well-organised. She said it is good that Kosovo Serbs participated in the elections, but believes that, despite the majority voting for the Serbian List, it would be better to have more candidates [...]
She said it is good that Kosovo Serbs participated in the elections, but believes that, despite the majority voting for the Serbian List, it would be better to have more candidates and different parties.
Regarding the Kosovo police's action against smuggling and organised crime in the north, von Cremon claims the action was not conducted only in northern Kosovo.
It is good that the Government of Kosovo has addressed this problem because fighting corruption and organised crime has always been an EU requirement. KFOR has been informed, but other forces too, and it is clear that there was no doubt that it was necessary”, von Cromon said.
“The EU has often demanded that this be taken seriously, should not be stressed by law enforcement, because it happens everywhere and not only in the north, mostly Albanians have been arrested, this type of crime does not matter for nationality. To curb this problem, intervention is needed. Those actions have not taken place only in the north, but also in other parts of Kosovo, and no one has had objections. There is a problem with organised crime, corruption and smuggling, and it is up to the Kosovo authorities to decide when and where to use the” police force, she said.
Violet von Cromon also praised the European Commission's report on Kosovo's progress.
“All countries still have the will, at least I hope, to continue the path of European integration, each country must do what it deserves, arrest and condemn individuals who participate in criminal activities. We all know that the focus of these phenomena is in northern Kosovo, and we should commend the Government of Kosovo for handling this problem. Fighting corruption and organised crime has always been an EU request,” has said von Cromon.
She has also talked about Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in the future, saying she hopes that after the elections in Kosovo and after the elections in Serbia next year there will be greater progress.
The “both sides understand that compromises on both sides should be needed, to implement the agreements reached. We hope in a mutual agreement that will be accepted by the majority of citizens in both countries”, von Cromon told N1, calling on both sides to sit down and find solutions.
