Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti emphasized that snap elections in the northern municipalities are necessary, but with a free pre-election campaign. He stressed that achieving such a thing requires rule of law.
“So, an environment where there is no fear and criminals. This is what we want and need to achieve together,” Kurti said in a video address to the Serb community in their native language.
He also said that “with the rule of law, we can gradually reduce the number of police officers in municipal buildings”.
On May 26, Kosovo Police assisted the entry of new Albanian mayors into municipal buildings in Zvečan, Leposavić, and Zubin Potok, which was strongly opposed by the Serbian population, who are a majority in that region. Parallel Serbian structures operate in those buildings, which are considered illegal by Kosovo.
Local Serbs in northern Kosovo boycotted the April elections and now do not accept their results.
Since May 29, they have been protesting every day with demands that Albanian mayors not go to work and that all units of the Kosovo Special Police be completely withdrawn from the north.
Meanwhile, the international community has called on Pristina and Belgrade to immediately deescalate the situation and return to the dialogue towards the normalization of relations.
In his address to the Serbs in the north, Prime Minister Kurti stated that it is necessary in the future “to fully and unconditionally implement the Brussel Basic Agreement, of which the Ohrid Annex is a constitutive part”.
In late February, Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the normalization of relations based on the EU proposal, and in March, they agreed on the annex for its implementation. Among other things, this agreement stipulates that Kosovo should provide members of the Serb community with a certain level of self-governance, while Serbia must not undermine the territorial integrity of Kosovo.
Kurti accused authorities in Belgrade and the Serbian Progressive Party of “politicizing criminals” and said that Kosovo is fighting corruption.
“Let us walk together towards a better future, building strong bridges because of what we want for ourselves and our families. Home is home, our country is the home of all of us,” Kurti said, emphasizing that he does not want war.
United States Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said on June 20 that the crisis in Kosovo could turn into a regional conflict and that he is deeply concerned.
Earlier, the European Union, which mediates the dialogue towards the normalization of relations between the two countries, called for an urgent meeting to manage the crisis.
However, the date has not yet been determined as the leaders of the two countries have not confirmed their participation.
