Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani has accused Serbia of violating the Agreement on the normalization of relations following an attack in Banjska on September 24.
During a meeting with Josep Borrell, the Chief of European Union Diplomacy in Granada, Spain, President Osmani pressed for Serbia to be held responsible for the events in Banjska of Zvecan.
“At the European Political Community, I met with the EU’s High Representative, Josep Borrell, to discuss Serbia’s act of aggression against Kosovo. Serbia must be held accountable for its clear violation of Article 3 of the February 27 agreement, which provides for the obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force,” Osmani stated on X, formerly known as Twitter.
At EPC, I met with HRVP @JosepBorrellF to discuss Serbia’s act of aggression against Kosovo.⁰
Serbia must be held accountable for its clear violation of Article 3 of the EU agrmt. of 27 Feb, which provides for the obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force. pic.twitter.com/eDgBd6WdyJ— Vjosa Osmani (@VjosaOsmaniPRKS) October 7, 2023
The referenced Agreement was reached on February 27 in Brussels. Subsequently, Kosovo and Serbia agreed on its implementation annex one month later in Ohrid. Nevertheless, the EU, as well as the United States, consistently urge the parties to implement this agreement.
Article 3 of this agreement emphasizes, “In accordance with the United Nations Charter, the parties shall resolve any disputes peacefully and abstain from threatening or using force”.
On September 24, a group of masked and armed individuals attacked Kosovo’s Police in Banjska of Zvecan, a municipality in north Kosovo predominantly inhabited by Serbs.
As a result of the attack, police officer Afrim Bunjaku was killed, and authorities reported that three attackers were also killed during the clashes.
Kosovo has accused Serbia of being behind this attack, but Belgrade has firmly denied any involvement.
Milan Radojičić, formerly the Deputy Chairman of the Serb List, the primary party representing Serbs in Kosovo with official backing from Belgrade, admitted to planning and participating in the Banjska attack.
Kosovo authorities have presented evidence of Radojičić’s involvement in the attack, including drone footage showing him armed in Banjska, and have called for an international investigation to determine Serbia’s role.
The EU has announced that it awaits the results of the investigations before deciding on further actions, while several European countries have demanded accountability from Serbia for the events in Banjska.
