Serbia is expected to provide answers regarding the assault on the Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zvecan, on September 24. This was emphasized by Croatian President Zoran Milanović during a joint press conference with his Kosovar counterpart, Vjosa Osmani, in Zagreb. Milanović suggested that the attack could not have occurred without Belgrade’s knowledge.
“Our position is crystal clear. Serbia must furnish explanations about certain glaring aspects that even a child couldn’t overlook,” Milanović remarked, referring to the Banjska attack.
In Banjska, an armed group of Serbs launched an attack on the Kosovo Police, resulting in the tragic death of officer Afrim Bunjaku. The attackers subsequently sought refuge in a local monastery, where they engaged in further clashes with the police. Three assailants lost their lives during these confrontations.
Kosovo has squarely placed blame on Serbia for the assault, while Belgrade has steadfastly denied any involvement.
Milan Radojičić, the former deputy leader of the Serb List, the principal political party of Serbs in Kosovo enjoying official support from Belgrade, openly admitted to orchestrating and leading the Banjska attack, an act classified as terrorism by Kosovo authorities.
The attack has drawn sharp condemnation from both the United States and the European Union.
“Who were these attackers? Where did they originate from? Who provided their funding? These are queries with historical precedents that we’d rather not witness again. There is an orchestrator behind the assault, and we must ascertain their identity,” stated Milanović.
The Croatian President underscored that such an incident should not be permitted to recur in the future, potentially escalating to a larger scale.
He insisted that Serbia should be held accountable and provide responses regarding this attack.
Meanwhile, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani reiterated her stance that, in the wake of the Banjska attack, Serbia should face sanctions as a deterrent against future incidents, in her perspective.
She emphasized that Serbia’s ultimate goal is the annexation of Kosovo’s northern region, predominantly inhabited by Serbs.
However, Milanović opposes the idea of sanctions, contending that they violate international law unless endorsed by the United Nations. Additionally, he argued that without UN approval, sanctions would prove ineffective.
