High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said Wednesday that the plan of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti to deescalate the situation in the north of the country does not address the fundamental elements that have triggered the current crisis in that area.
In a response sent to Prime Minister Kurti, Borrell stated that the demands of the 27 European Union countries and the United States remain valid, emphasizing that failure to deescalate the situation will result in negative consequences.
Kosovo: After @JosepBorrellF received and read the highly publicised letter from Prime Minister Kurti, he answered, explaining 🇪🇺 expectations and steps needed for true de-escalation. Here is the response in full: pic.twitter.com/HDa2k66hMt
— Peter Stano (@ExtSpoxEU) June 14, 2023
The United States and the European Union are calling for Kosovo to withdraw special police units from the north, as well as the temporary removal of newly appointed Albanian mayors from municipal offices to alternative locations.
“We are requesting Serbia to support the withdrawal of radical elements from these areas. After de-escalation, we stand ready to discuss in more detail security arrangements with KFOR/ EULEX in the four municipalities, which you suggest under point three,” Borrell said, adding that this implies that Prime Minister Kurti must fully take into consideration the opinions of EULEX and KFOR, including prior coordination with them.
“We note with regret that this was not the case for the operation in North Mitrovica,” he said, referring to the arrest of a member of the Serbian community under suspicion of involvement in attacks against NATO forces on May 29th.
“Therefore, any future rule of law measures in the north of Kosovo would need to be discussed and individually evaluated together with EULEX and KFOR. These events of the past have shown that not every measure taken by Kosovo under the umbrella of rule of law can be supported by your international partners in the context of a very fragile environment,” Borrell said.
The High Representative reiterated the request for the organization of elections as soon as possible in the northern municipalities, an element included in Prime Minister Kurti’s plan but only after the “establishment of rule of law in northern Kosovo”, which entails bringing those who have used violence during protests by Serbian citizens in the north to justice.
“There can be no impunity for the violence that occurred on May 29th and EULEX will monitor all investigations in line with its mandate,” Borrell wrote.
Regarding Prime Minister Kurti’s request for a high-level meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussel, Borrell stated that he is willing to hold such a meeting on the condition that Kurti is willing to take steps to deescalate the situation and pave the way for new elections.
“We cannot make progress on normalization of relations, while we are dealing with crisis management. The European Union and the United States have invested a lot in the normalization process and we want to see it moving forward. That is why de-escalation is needed immediately,” the letter from Borrell to the Prime Minister of Kosovo stated.
