6 minutes agoNATO urges Kosovo to stress situation immediately in the north
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)The NATO Alliance has called on Kosovo to calm the situation in the country's north, a day after the tensions that were created there. NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu, through a Twitter post, said all sides should resolve issues through dialogue, until she stressed that KFOR remains vigilant in this region. “We [...]
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu, through a Twitter post, said all sides should resolve issues through dialogue, until she stressed that KFOR remains vigilant in this region.
“We call on institutions in Kosovo to immediately stress the situation and call on all sides to resolve the situation through dialogue. Mission NATO, KFOR, continues to be alert and offer secure environment”, Lungescu wrote.
We fought the Institutions in #Kosovo to de-escalate institutionally & call on all parties to restore the situation through dialogue. @NATO KFOR Remains vigilant & will ensure a safe & secure environment.
) Oana Lungesu (@ NATOpress) May 27, 2023
Otherwise, mayors of northern Kosovo municipalities Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq have managed to enter their police assistance offices yesterday. Groups of local residents in these Serb-run municipalities opposed their former use of Serbian officials to go to offices. Police fired tear gas and shock-bombs to disperse protesters who threw stones towards the police and burned several cars.
Internationals have reacted immediately to these developments. The first to react was United States Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Havenier.
Hüvenier condemned the Kosovo state authorities' actions to introduce new mayors into municipal facilities.
The United States condemns actions that are continuing by Kosovo authorities to enter municipalities' objects in northern Kosovo. Today's violent measures must stop immediately”, Havenier wrote.
Shortly thereafter, American Secretary of State Antony Blinken reacted.
He wrote in Titter that “strongly condemns the actions of the Kosovo government”, which according to Blinken is escalating tensions in the north and are increasing instability.
” Call on Prime Minister Albin Kurti to stop these violent measures immediately and to refocus on EU facilitated Dialogue”, Blinken's post says.
After the U.S. reactions, the states of QUINT have reacted through a joint communiqué.
In this QUINT-I communiqué has condemned Kosovo's decision to force entry into municipal buildings in northern Kosovo despite calls for restraint.
QU The INT has called for Kosovo institutions to withdraw immediately, calm the situation and co-ordinate closely with EULEX and KFOR. They have condemned the attacks on EULEX in Zvecan and have also expressed their concern with Serbia's decision to establish military readiness.
“We condemn Kosovo's decision to force entry into municipal buildings in northern Kosovo, despite our call for content. We call on Kosovo authorities to immediately withdraw and de-trade and co-ordinate closely with EULEX and KFOR”, the joint statement said.
The situation in the north has also reacted to the European Union. The EU has said “will not accept further unilateral or provocative moves”
The European Union strongly condemns clashes between Kosovo Police and demonstrators in northern Kosovo, initiated by the attempt by newly elected mayors to enter municipal buildings”, says the statement issued by the European Foreign Action Service press service (EEAS).
All must take steps to reduce the tense situation and restore peace immediately. The EU will not accept further unilateral or provocative moves, and preserving peace and security on the ground should be a priority”, the statement said.
UNMIK chief Caroline Ziadeh has also said she is following the recent developments in the country's north with concern.
Calling for lowering tensions, she has said that resolving this should be done through Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.
UN Secretary-General Ziadeh's special representative “is following with the greatest concern the developing situation in northern Kosovo. It urges all to refrain from further escalating actions and take urgent steps to restore peace. It emphasises the need to find a solution within the framework of the EU-led Dialogue”, UNMIK's response said.
KFOR has announced it is closely monitoring the situation in northern Kosovo.
In an answer to the Express Journal, KFOR describes the chairmanial entry into northern municipalities as violent.
According to KFOR, such a situation risks furthering the situation.
” KFOR is closely monitoring the situation in municipalities in northern Kosovo, where a series of clashes have been triggered by the violent entry of newly elected mayors into municipal buildings. This is extremely dangerous for the normalisation process and risks further escalation of tensions. KFOR firmly condemns these unilateral acts and calls on all sides to refrain from violence that could threaten security in Kosovo”, it says.
Afterwards, KFOR has demanded that all actors involved be co-ordinated.
” Co-ordination among all actors is essential to avoid further escalation. KFOR's first priority remains to ensure a safe environment, in line with the UN Security Council mandate. Dialogue and diplomacy are the only way to lasting peace and security in Kosovo”, the answer ends.
