14 minutes agoSingle call from Quinti countries: Release three Kosovo police officers immediately
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)The United States of America (SHBA), the United Kingdom and Germany have called for the release of three Kosovo border police officers, for whom Kosovo authorities claim to have been kidnapped within the territory of Kosovo by Serb forces. Authorities in Serbia say they were “down” on their territory when they were arrested. [...]
Authorities in Serbia say they were “down” on their territory when they were arrested.
The US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, has told reporters Friday that he has been followed by the “the arrest of three Kosovo police officers”.
There are two scenarios, one that they have been kidnapped from within Kosovo's territory and sent to Serbia, or they unwittingly crossed the border where they found themselves within Serbia's territory. In any case, it is clear that these policemen had no intention of being in Serbia and should be released”, Escobar stressed.
United Kingdom Ambassador to Kosovo Nicholas Abbott, through a tweet writing, has said his country calls for the immediate release of three Kosovo police officers arrested on June 14th”.
“We urge Kosovo and Serbia to exercise maximum content, avoid unilateral measures and take immediate steps to reduce tensions”.
The United Kingdom has reiterated calls to Prime Minister Kurti for the mayors of four northern municipalities to exercise office from alternative objects and to withdraw the special Kosovo Police Unit from municipal buildings in the north. New elections and the establishment of Association have also been sought.
Germany's Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, has called on Serbia and Kosovo “to do everything possible to calm the situation at the” border.
This includes the unconditional release of three Kosovo police officers. People in both countries need prospects that the conflict has long contained”, Baerbok wrote on Twitter.
The Kosovo government believes that Serbian authorities, according to her, “kidnapped” the three police officers, due to Serb arrest Milun Milenkovic from Kosovo Police on 13 June, under suspicion that it organised violence against members of the NATO mission, KFOR, in northern Kosovo.
This area, inhabited by Serb majority, has been tense since the end of May, when Kosovo police helped Albanian mayors of municipalities there enter their facilities, despite the resistance of local residents.
These facilities are also exploited by Serb parallel structures.
Tensions culminated on May 29th, when Serb protesters clashed with KFOR soldiers. Tens of wounded were reported on both sides.
The international community wants Kosovo immediately to stress the situation, respectively, to withdraw special police units from the north, organise new local elections and turn into dialogue with Serbia.
From official Belgrade, on the other hand, it is required to ensure the unconditional participation of Serbs in possible local elections.
The extraordinary April elections, out of which Albanian mayors came, were boycotted by the Serb community.
