16 minutes agoEULEX concerns: The opening of the Ibër Bridge may have serious security implications
Periskopi(2 years ago)
(2 years ago)EULEX mission chief in Kosovo Giovanni Pietro Barbano declares that the security situation in the country is fragile and that there are concerns about potential tensions. According to him, aggression in Banjska testified to the fragility and vulnerability of the country, which indicates that there must be special attention from institutions. EULEX mission [...]
EULEX mission chief in Kosovo Giovanni Pietro Barbano declares that the security situation in the country is fragile and that there are concerns about potential tensions.
According to him, aggression in Banjska testified to the fragility and vulnerability of the country, which indicates that there must be special attention from institutions. The EULEX mission expects Serbia to hold those responsible for aggression in Banjska.
In the interview for Kosova priss, Barbano also speaks of the opening initiative of the Ibër Bridge, which he considers has serious implications for security.
Kosovo's “General situation is calm, but fragile, especially in the north, we have some concerns about the ongoing show of the crisis and possible reasons for tensions. And as the high representative and deputy chairman of the European Commission, Mr. Borrell, it's time to stop this cycle, this vicious cycle of crises and tensions. Now is the time to build on institutions, continue engagement and work on dialogue, and move on to different goals of dialogue, including the establishment of association of Serb majority municipalities.
In this, we are constantly engaged in monitoring the situation, preventing potential crises, and working in close co-operation with other actors in what is technically called the three-story security system in Kosovo, where the first security response is Kosovo Police, the second security responder is EULEX, the European Union for Rule of Law in Kosovo, and the third is KFOR<0>, he declares.
Special attention, he adds, must have the Zvecan Banjska. EULEX mission chief says they are making patrols in the country's north, also that they are willing to react at the request of Kosovo authorities.
“Banjska has proven the fragility and vulnerability of this area. And so this area requires special attention. We are alert to prevent any return, any possible return to violence through our presence, alert and visible. We are carrying out 24/7 patrols north with our form in the police unit and we are willing to react at the request of the Kosovo Police authorities, respectively, as the second security responseer with our rapid reaction force to address possible civil unrest”, he adds to Kosova Pris.
As he comments on Serbian aggression in Zvecan Banika, the chief of the European Union's Mission for Law Rule in Kosovo (EULEX), Giovanni Pietro Barbano expects Serbia to hold responsible those who committed aggression.
“We expect Serbia to exercise its power to hold those who carried out this attack responsible. We also need to keep in mind that we raise our awareness and vigilance to prevent such an attack from happening again. And not alone EULEX, but all other security institutions. I cannot speak what KFOR is doing to prevent such an attack, but it is clear that Kosovo has reinforced its presence and capabilities along the border.
But Serbia must also do its best to prevent such a phenomenon from repeating itself. And if anything were to repeat, it would mean that, most likely, institutions in Serbia, the security institution in Serbia had failed to prevent an attack like this. So again, an attack may be possible, but we see it as a very rare opportunity to happen. The authors of the attack in Banjska must submit to justice. And this is done through relevant institutions and relevant authorities”, he stresses.
He does not comment on local institutions' statements to Serbia's military bases at the Kosovo border, but adds that this belongs to KFOR.
The unfortunate situation considers the Serb boycott in four municipalities in the country's north to be in the electoral process for the dismissal of mayors or not.
“This is a very unfortunate situation, sorry that Kosovo Serb citizens lost the opportunity to exercise their rights, removing mayors who were elected with very small voter support and the election of new mayors and new institutions that truly reflect the composition of the population in the north. Voting is a primary citizens' right. Not exercising (this right), the right to vote is leaving a vacuum, a vacuum that then provokes the lowering of the rights of the same citizens. So, there's something we expected a greater turnout of”, he says.
Barbano claims to be in constant contact with security institutions, even though they respect the independence of Kosovo institutions.
We are constantly in contact with security institutions. After Bratislava's agreement, we also have periodic meetings to assess the security situation in the north, with KFOR presence and with KFOR participation when necessary. We have this ongoing information exchange and monitoring their activities. However, by doing so, we constantly respect the independence of Kosovo institutions and adhere to the principle of non-intervention.
This means that when they are conducting operations based on their investigation -- their needs to implement the law -- we are expected to receive information and notice of ongoing activities, not a consultation. Because we no longer hold an executive mandate. So we need to be informed to give our opinion on the situation and to allow us to start our actions to monitor field activities. There is room for improvement in this area, of course co-ordination, co-operation with the Kosovo Police is improving day by day, but there is still room for improvement in order to make the proper and preliminary announcement of operations with the mission and other security reactions in the area”, he says.
The initiative for the opening of Ibër Bridge in Mitrovica, he declares that it should be addressed within dialogue.
This is something that needs to be addressed within dialogue, of course, is one aspect that we're concerned about because there may be serious implications in security. And we expect wisdom to be used in this direction”, he declares briefly.
In the interview for Kosovo Press, the chief of the European Union's Mission for Rule of Law in Kosovo (EULEX), Barbano says there is improvement and development in justice institutions.
“We are supporting activities conducted by the Law Medicine Institute. We're worried about the poor state of infrastructure and we're starting a programme to donate containers to help. The IML offers better in this transitional period. We are happy, let's say about developments, there's still much to do, many aspects should be dealt with especially in drafting rules for implementing existing legislation, or writing procedures.
We are doing this not only by supporting Kosovo's correctional system, but also the testing system of Kosovo, where we are fully committed with them to drafting this regulation, and have monitored activities carried out under the so-called Joint Declaration of engagement for drafting new laws in the area of career, recruiting and development of acts of justice and prosecution. We see with concern that this system is now facing difficulties, and we expect a possible re-agence of all acts in this mechanism. And we're kind of worried”, it ends. / KP/
