a minute agoPeaceful situation in Kosovo after terrorist attack Sunday
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Kosovo police said Wednesday they have completed raids in the village of Banjska in the north, three days after fighting a group of armed men who attacked law enforcement forces by killing one policeman and wounding another. I can confirm that the situation in Banjska is quiet, the situation is good. People are [...]
I can confirm that the situation in Banjska is quiet, the situation is good. People are free to move. Still, there are dangers from unbroken means. They may be in the bushes in the surrounding mountains, so police with their specialised units will conduct checks in the coming days”, Deputy Police Director in the Northern Mitrovica municipality Veton Elshani said.
The group that attacked police Sunday later broke into the Orthodox monastery in the village of Banjska, continuing to shoot at the forces of order. The fight ended when most attackers escaped. Three of the armed attackers were killed. The attack was named a terrorist act by Kosovo institutions and Western diplomats.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said Sunday that state sovereignty, land and national security of Kosovo have been violated.
The same day, danger, purpose, potential and willingness of criminal and terrorist groups have been proven, which we have fought for more than two and a half years. With more than 5m euros worth of military weapons and sufficient quantities for a group of hundreds of fighters, the scenario for bloodshed in Kosovo has been proven. These include individuals sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom for criminal activities. They are looking for our justice institutions for criminal acts in Kosovo. They appear side by side and side at a table in Belgrade and the District, with Serbia's (Aleksandar) president, Vucic, warning the direct role of the Serbian state in this among”, Prime Minister Kurti said.
He said the attack has also spread difficulties, as well as the need for greater international co-operation in guarding the border with Serbia, and along with it the need for open, clear-language sentences and demands on Serbia by the international community.
Authorities in Pristina presented a video recording Tuesday, which, according to them, one of the members of the armed group that attacked Kosovo police is Serbian List Deputy Chairman Milan Radojcic, who is sanctioned by the United States and the United Kingdom.
After documenting participation in this terrorist attack by Serbian List deputy leader Milan Radojic, one more thing has been proved worthy of everyone's attention: the vital importance of the revival of Serb political pluralism in Kosovo. There is no democracy and freedom without pluralism. Kosovo Serbs should be released from Serbia'sTotela”, Prime Minister Kurti said.
Kosovo Interior Minister Xhelal Svechla shared the picture today, as said by one of the members of the armed group that remained killed Sunday. He wrote on social networks that the “participation of that act is also Bojan Mijailovic, the bodyguard of Serbian intelligence agency chief Aleksandar Vulin, in his visit to the Republic of Kosovo in 2013”.
Recent developments in the country's north were the subject of Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani's discussions with opposition party leaders.
Democratic League Chairman Lumir Abdixhiku said that at the meeting he has expressed “the importance of national unity in dealing with the challenges that may come from Serbia; as a sponsor and sheltering state of terrorists”.
Alliance for the Future of Kosovo Chairman Ramush Haradinaj said after the meeting that the risks are still major, while urging close co-operation with the allies.
Such a situation is quite complex and it is seen that in the upcoming stages, a co-ordination of all is required, so no one should lack to do its part, nobody in Kosovo. But even though we are of this country we will carry out our duty in the service of the country, we need allies”, he said.
The attack was named a terrorist act by Kosovo institutions and Western diplomats, while authorities in Serbia have denied any link to the group.
The Serbian List already declared three days of mourning in Serb-run areas in memory of three armed attackers who were killed Sunday in clashes with police. Serbia's government declared Wednesday also a day of mourning.
Groups of Serbian citizens in northern Kosovo lit candles last night in commemoration of three Serbs killed during Sunday's clashes.
Authorities said the announcement of mourning for the three members of the group unveiled the authorship of organising Sunday's attack, which has sparked new international concerns about the region's stability. / VOA
