O'Brien: Banjska authors' hold accountable must happen soon, welcome the dismissal of the Vulin and provide some guarantees from Serbia

Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, at the conference for journalists held virtually Friday, has talked about the security situation, Alexander Vuciq's recent threat, and the video published by Prime Minister Albin Kurti for Serbian soldiers near the border with Kosovo.

O'Brien has said the US is monitoring Serbian Army exercises, until he has said the main issue is for both sides to reduce tensions in the region. O'Brien said this included non-exercise actions.

He in his conversation with reporters has said the US has made clear to Serbia that individuals who have been involved in Banjska's attack should be held accountable for their actions, and added that the US expects such a thing to happen very soon.

While, it has said the Government of Serbia has already taken several steps since 24 September 2023, citing the dismissal of Alekasnder Vulin from the position of Serbian intelligence chief. The U.S. official has said that the United States has welcomed such a decision, including the removal of troops behind and the provision of some guarantees for activities in the north.

So, from the Serbian side, we have made it clear that individuals involved in the September acts should be held accountable for their actions. And we expect that to happen and soon to happen. The Serbian government has already taken a series of steps since September 24th, and we welcome them, including the dismissal of the head of the intelligence agency, shifting the troop base behind and providing some guarantees for activity in the north. But we want to see these tensions stay low, and so some of these activities are the ones we would prefer not to happen”, James O'Brien said.