4 hours agoKFOR: Our intervention 29 May in Zvecan, crucial not to clash with Serbs with Albanians
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)NATO's peacekeeping force in Kosovo said Tuesday that its “intervention was crucial” to keep ethnic Serbs and Albanians divided during riots that injured 38 KFOR officers at the country's northern point. On May 29th, KFOR separated Serbs protesters from Albanians in Zvecan amid clashes following the Serb boycott of voting [...]
On 29 May, KFOR separated Serbs protesters from Albanians in Zvecan amid clashes following the Serbian boycott of the vote in the north that allowed Albanians to take control of local councils.
“was very violent, but I think KFOR's intervention was crucial because we avoided clashes and contacts between the two sides”, said Captain Davide Inglese, a commander of the company who was present during the clashes.
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KFOR personnel with helicopters and armoured road vehicles on Tuesday conducted regular monitoring operations in Mitrovica, a predominantly ethnic Serb city in the north and the surrounding region. Media involving the AFP were invited to observe.
The situation seemed calm in contrast to the May clashes in which troubled Serbs threw Molotov cocktails, stones and bottles. Violence was the worst ever faced by KFOR since 2004, its bosses say, and it prompted NATO to bring in 500 additional Turkish troops to strengthen the peacekeeping force.
The EU and the United States are urging both sides to escalate the situation.
Serbia's arrest last week of three Kosovo police officers further raised tensions after weeks of tension between the two sides over the controversial elections in Serb majority northern Kosovo.
Inglese said that, after the 29 May riots, he had spoken to both sides on the ground in Mitrovica.
“They want peace, they want our defence”, he said. “They want impartiality between two parts and we're here for this”.
