Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has called upon Serbia to advocate for the cessation of violence in the wake of an attack on the Kosovo Police in Banjska on September 24.
Baerbock, in a X update, emphasized the importance of everyone recognizing their role in maintaining peace during these tense times, particularly in the Western Balkans.
“After the attack on the Police in Kosovo, everyone must be aware of their role in peace. In this fraught situation in the Western Balkans, responsibility is gauged by the efforts made to de-escalate the situation. Serbia, in particular, must unequivocally call for an end to violence,” she wrote.
Nach dem Angriff auf die Polizei in #Kosovo muss sich jeder seiner Rolle für Frieden bewusst sein. In der angespannten Lage auf dem Westbalkan misst sich Verantwortung daran, was man für #Deeskalation tut. Gerade auch Serbien muss unzweideutig zum Gewaltverzicht aufrufen.
— Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock (@ABaerbock) September 26, 2023
On September 24, an armed and masked group launched an assault on the Kosovo Police in Banjska, Zvecan, a region primarily inhabited by Serbs, resulting in the tragic death of police officer Afrim Bunjaku.
Subsequently, the armed group sought refuge within the Banjska Monastery, where they continued their armed confrontation with the Kosovo Police.
Authorities in Kosovo reported that three attackers were killed, and eight individuals were apprehended.
Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs Xhelal Sveçla accused Milan Radojičić, the deputy chairman of the Serb List, which represents the largest Serbian community in Kosovo, of organizing and participating in the attack.
On September 26, Sveçla released a drone-captured video purportedly showing Radojičić armed at Banjska.
The Serb List, backed by Belgrade, along with Serbian institutions, have not yet responded to Kosovo’s allegations regarding Radojičić’s alleged involvement.
The attack has been widely condemned by both the United States and the European Union.
