European Parliament today debates September 24th attack on north

An extraordinary debate will take place at the European Parliament headquarters today over the September 24th attack in the north, while the adoption of a resolution is expected soon.

The debate was initiated by Social Democrats, the second largest group in the European Parliament.

We condemn the recent aggression of an armed terrorist gang against Kosovo police officers. All facts about the attack must be confirmed. The responsible authors must face justice”, says the warning of European Social Democrats.

One of the initials of the debate, EuroDeputet Tonino Picula has stated that the resolution, which is expected to be adopted, will present a clear assessment of the European Parliament for relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and after the recent terrorist attack on northern Kosovo and the murder of a police officer.

Picaula claims that political responsibility for the recent escalation of violence should be determined in addition to criminal responsibility.

He warns that the Eurodeputs will reflect on the resolution and their views on the role of European mediators in light of the Ethiopian deadlock in implementing the plan for normalising relations.

The debate over the attack will take place Tuesday evening as the resolution is expected to be adopted at the second plenary session in the second half of October.

“We condemn the recent aggression of terrorists armed to the Kosovo police officer. All facts of this attack must be cleared and responsible to face justice“, Picaula said.

Kosovo police were attacked by an armed Serb group in the village of Banjska, in the municipality of Zvecan on 24 September, where Sergeant Africa Bulnjak was killed. The attackers fled to the village monastery after being attacked in an ambush by a police patrol from where they continued their confrontation with the police, and three of them were killed.

Kosovo police arrested and detained three attackers, as well as found extraordinary weapons arsenals at the scene after the attack.

Serbia has denied Kosovo's accusations that it is involved in this attack, named terrorist by Kosovo authorities.

For relations between Kosovo and Serbia, the performance of dialogue and tensions in the north will be discussed Tuesday on 3 October at a plenary session of the European Parliament.

Five days after the attack, Milan Radovici took responsibility for the attack, and resigned from the post of deputy head of the Serbian List of Serbs in Kosovo, which has the support of the Serbian government.

The attack in the north took place about two weeks after Kurti and Vuciqi failed to reach agreement on normalising relations during the European Union-brokered summit in Brussels on 14 September.

Pristina believes it must be a mutual recognition, while Belgrade insists on a compromise solution.

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence, declared in 2008, and has the support of allies Russia and China against it.