EU’s Borrell says incidents in the north of Kosovo need to stop immediately

English

Gazeta Express

13/10/2021 14:23

The EU foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, has reacted after today’s incidents in northern part of Kosovo following Kosovo Police anti-smuggling crackdown which was met with protests of Serbs who blocked roads and attacked the police, Gazeta Express reports.

Borrell said the violent incidents in the north of Kosovo need to stop immediately, adding that unilateral actions are unacceptable.  

“The violent incidents in the north of Kosovo need to stop immediately. Unilateral and uncoordinated actions that endanger stability are unacceptable. All open issues must be addressed through the EU-facilitated Dialogue. We are in contact with Belgrade and Pristina,” Borrell wrote on Twitter.

The Kosovo Police launched Wednesday an anti-smuggling operation in Pristina, Peja, Mitrovica South and Mitrovica North. But the presence of the Kosovo Police special units in the north was opposed by local Serbs who blocked the roads and attacked the police by throwing stones, teargas, shock bombs, hand grenades and firearms. Authorities are reporting that six police officers and one protestor sustained injuries. The Police managed to arrest eight people and confiscate smuggled goods.

The Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in a Facebook post urged citizens of Mitrovica North to be calm and announced that today’s police operation has been concluded. /GazetaExpress/