5 minutes agoYesterday's developments in the north, strong international reactions
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)The mayors of northern Kosovo municipalities, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq, have managed to enter their offices yesterday, with police assistance. Groups of local residents in these Serb-run municipalities rejected their move to offices that were formerly used by Serbian officials. Police fired tear gas and [...]
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 that “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.
Otherwise, police used tear gas and shock-bombs to disperse several Serbian citizens who gathered in front of municipal buildings in northern Kosovo in an effort to prevent the entry of new Albanian mayors into their offices. Despite the clashes, the mayors settled in their offices, Kosovo Interior Minister Jalal Svecla confirmed. /Express
