DW: Kosovo alerts possible attacks in the north

Authorities in Kosovo have raised the alarm for possible new attacks in northern Kosovo. Prime Minister Albin Kurti said that Milan Radoic, former deputy chairman of the Serbian List, who claimed responsibility for the attack on Banjska, is preparing new attacks on Kosovo along with the group that carried out the 24 September attack, where a Kosovo policeman and then three attackers were killed.

At a weekend conference based on Kosovo intelligence information, Kurti cited several locations in Serbia, where the group according to him is conducting training, including Serbia's military position. The Kosovo prime minister's claims were immediately rejected by the Serbian Defence Ministry. Kosovo Prime Minister did not offer testimony, but according to Kurti, “Milan Radojic holds regular meetings with Serbian intelligence and that members of his group are paid 2,000 euros a month”.

Kurti: Radojic prepares more attacks in Kosovo

The signing of the order for the attack on Banjska was given to Novi Pazar Put company facilities, owned by Zvonko and Zarko Veselinovic, who have been Radociqi business partners. Following the terrorist attack, Milan Radojic was acquitted by the Serbian court in record time. He is now continuing preparations for further attacks on Kosovo, along with several members of the terrorist Civil Protection organisation”, Prime Minister Kurti said. Uncovering data, Kosovo Prime Minister said “Radoicicic is holding regular meetings with senior Serbian intelligence officials (BIA).

The firm's “environments -- Jablanovica in Rask, such as Novi Pazar Put -- are being used for housing and conservation of vehicles and explosives for future attacks by Radojic and his group. Currently, some members of the Civil Protection are accommodated in this building, which conducts observations on the territory of Kosovo”, Kurti said. He also mentioned a Serbian Army polygon in Peshter, where, according to him, they have resumed the exercises of a group of 60 of “Civil Protection”, which, according to Kurti “, participated in the attack on Banjska”. “Civil Protection” and “North Brigade”, two organisations of northern Serbs in Kosovo, are named terrorist organisations.

“This group had planned attacks on our police following the end of the elections in Serbia at border locations linked to alternative illegal ways”, Kurti said. According to him, Kosovo in co-operation with international partners is prepared to repel such attacks.

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Kurti prior to the meeting in Pristina 20,11.2023 Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Kurti prior to the meeting in Pristina 20,11.2023

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg and Prime Minister Kurti prior to the meeting in Pristina 20,11.2023 Photo: Office of the Prime Minister in Kosovo

Serbia denies accusations

According to Kosovo Interior Ministry data, from 2021 until now, Kosovo's “Police have been the target of 114 attacks in the north of”, mainly committed by the group, which carried out the attack on Zvecuan Banjska.

Immediately after these statements by Prime Minister Kurti, Serbia's Defence Ministry, denied these charges, even calling “absurde”. The “is a lie and complete absurd that the training grounds of Serbia's Armed Forces are being used for the exercises of any entity, except for units of Serbia's Armed Forces and occasionally the Ministry of Internal Affairs”, the Serbian Defence Ministry said, rejecting also that “plans for attacks on the territory of Kosovo”.

NATO entry after September 24th Kosovo attack

The September 24th attack on northern Kosovo Banjska has been described as the most serious since Kosovo's declaration of independence, raising international concern for stability in the country. Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, at its late-year conference said that <x0->saving a peaceful and secure environment in Kosovo is the key to the stability of the wider Western Balkan region.

In this period of the year, my deepest thanks and respect goes to our NATO forces. Without you there would be no NATO, no security and no freedom. Their service keeps us safe, safe, and free from”, Stoltenberg said. The Atlantic Alliance this year sent hundreds of additional troops, increasing the number to 4600 troops. The increase in the number of soldiers took place after the riots in the north following the deployment of Albanian mayors in four Serb majority municipalities, where local Serbs injured dozens of KFOR soldiers, as well as after the attack in Banjska on 24 September, where armed Serb groups attacked Kosovo police, killing a policeman.

Calls for Eliminating Punishment Measures

Kosovo leaders, however, called on the European Union to lift punitive measures against Kosovo and punish Serbia for saying <x0->environmental action towards Kosovo and the exit of the agreement to normalise relations between the two countries”.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has said that the <x0 measures imposed by the European Union following recent tensions were unfair”. “Those asked by Kosovo for what was called escalation have already occurred and the measures have already had to be removed, because there are measures that unfairly affect the lives of our citizens because of projects that have been blocked, which are largely dedicated to the municipalities”, says President Osmani.

According to her, “tends by some now to misuse the measures as a way to condition Kosovo on completely different issues than those for which” is set, and such an approach according to President Osmani is unacceptable. Prime Minister Albin Kurti, on his side, in a post on social networks, also called for the removal of punitive measures and for Kosovo to be granted candidate country status for membership in the European Union and the Partnership for Peace programme with NATO. “Precisely, our Western partners would strongly seek Serbia to implement the obligation of Kosovo's de facto recognition. Kurti voiced hope that the “European Union and the United States will impose sanctions on Serbia, on hostile and aggressive behaviour and aggressive actions towards Kosovo, and for lifting the agreement on normalising relations”.

The agreement reached in Ohrid with EU mediation requires good neighbourly relations between Kosovo and Serbia. Top European leaders Kosovo asked for the establishment of the Serb majority-run Association of municipalities, while Serbia, de facto recognition of Kosovo.