U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has strongly voiced condemnation of the attacks on the Kosovo Police in the northern part of the country, urging the governments of both Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate tensions.
In a statement, Blinken emphasized the need for the individuals responsible for this crime to be held accountable through a transparent investigative process.
“We call on the governments of Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from any actions or rhetoric that may further escalate tensions and to immediately work, in coordination with international partners, to de-escalate the situation, provide security, and uphold the rule of law, returning to the EU-facilitated dialogue,” he stated.
According to the U.S. diplomat, the Kosovo Police “bears full responsibility for law enforcement in the Republic of Kosovo”.
“The United States recognizes and respects the role of the Kosovo Police as the first responder to emergencies and crises,” Blinken said.
The U.S. Secretary of State expressed appreciation for the close coordination with the Kosovo Police, the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), and NATO’s KFOR mission, “particularly in providing security for civilians in hotspots”, adding that the United States will continue to monitor the situation.
The incidents unfolded during the early hours of Sunday when a group of masked and armed individuals confronted the Kosovo Police while authorities were attempting to dismantle barricades in Banjska, Zvecan.
These confrontations resulted in the tragic death of police officer Afrim Bunjaku, with several others sustaining injuries.
The armed group subsequently sought refuge within the Banjska Monastery and engaged in further clashes with the Kosovo Police throughout the day.
Sunday saw reports of three attackers losing their lives in the course of these events. Furthermore, on September 25, an unidentified body of another suspected attacker was discovered. Additionally, six individuals have been apprehended in relation to these incidents.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, characterized the armed assailants as “a highly organized professional unit that had come to engage in conflict within Kosovo”.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić acknowledged that the armed individuals were local Serbs residing in Kosovo who “could no longer endure the terror of Kurti’s administration”.
Vučić unequivocally condemned the killing of the Kosovo police officer, stating that such an act “cannot be justified”. However, he firmly denied any association between Belgrade and the attack.
A day after the clashes in the northern region, the situation in this predominantly Serbian-populated area of Kosovo is said to have stabilized. Nonetheless, access to the village of Banjska in the Municipality of Zvecan remains restricted by the Kosovo Police.
