Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that the institutions of Kosovo have identified 45 individuals who, according to him, have participated in attacks in northern Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Serbs.

“Up to now, a total of 45 individuals have been identified – precise identification – who have participated in attacks, violence against KFOR soldiers, the Kosovo Police, and journalists. At the same time, they have caused a general risk by using various weapons, from hand grenades to shock bombs, as well as bullets, whether from automatic weapons or revolvers,” Kurti said during a press statement on 3 July.

So far, the Kosovo Police has arrested several individuals for attacks against journalists, as well as for the violent incidents that occurred on 29 May in Zvečan. On that day, Serbian protesters clashed with NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) soldiers, leaving dozens of people injured on both sides.

Kurti stated that “not even half” of the suspects involved in the attacks in the north have been arrested, “and that’s why we have this situation”.

Tensions in northern Kosovo started at the end of May when new Albanian mayors of Zvečan, Leposavić, and Zubin Potok entered municipal buildings with the assistance of the police, despite the opposition of local Serbs.

Recently, there have been more frequent attacks with shock bombs and hand grenades.

The latest explosion in this area was registered in the early hours of 3 July in North Mitrovica. The explosion is suspected to have been caused by a shock bomb.

On 29 June, the Government of Kosovo declared the “Civil Protection” and the “Northern Brigade” – organizations believed to operate in northern Kosovo – as terrorist organizations.

The United States stated that the Government of Kosovo did not coordinate with them and other international partners regarding this decision.

When asked about Washington’s reaction, Kurti said that Kosovo has “countless facts and evidence that speak of terrorist organizations”.

• “Interested in de-escalation”

Prime Minister Kurti said that he is in contact with European officials regarding the tense situation in northern Kosovo. He mentioned having a phone conversation with EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

“I am also interested in de-escalating the situation and achieving normalization. De-escalation implies the rule of law that would suppress these criminals, forcing them to face justice or even go to Serbia,” Kurti said.

“For normalization, we immediately need the implementation of the agreement. Let’s not forget that we have an agreement with Serbia – this is a significant achievement – on 27 February in Brussels and 18 March in Ohrid. This agreement is also part of the conclusions of the European Council, which unanimously made it part of the Basic Agreement. This agreement needs to be implemented. Today, we don’t have a solution, we don’t have normalization, not because we don’t have an agreement, but because we don’t have implementation,” he added.

Kurti referred to the Agreement on the Comprehensive Normalization of Relations that the parties reached earlier this year with the mediation of the EU and the support of the United States.

• Vučić “regrets” the Agreement on Normalization

The agreement, consisting of 11 points, does not include mutual recognition, which Kosovo insists on, but it requires Kosovo and Serbia to accept each other’s documents and symbols, including passports, diplomats, and license plates.

The document calls on parties to implement all the agreements reached so far in the dialogue for the normalization of relations, including the one regarding the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo, which the Government in Pristina has so far refused, arguing that it could jeopardize the functionality of the state.

This agreement was not signed by Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. However, it is considered legally binding by the EU.

“It is my strong belief that the President of Serbia regrets saying ‘yes’ to the Basic Agreement, even though he said ‘yes’ to not signing it, and now he regrets even saying ‘yes’. The essence of the matter is that we have an agreement that is not being implemented. The nervousness in Belgrade is leading to violence in northern Kosovo due to disagreement with what they have already said ‘yes’ to,” Kurti said.

The EU has presented several requests to the Government of Kosovo to de-escalate the situation. One of them is holding snap elections in the northern part of the country; Kurti is requested to withdraw special units of the Kosovo Police from the areas around municipal buildings where they are currently located; elected Albanian mayors are asked to work temporarily in alternative buildings, not in the municipal ones, and to return to the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.