Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that the country stands behind the values of the United States and the European Union.

However, he said that the path towards calming the situation in the four northern municipalities should start with the removal of what he referred to as criminal gangs.

“The way forward for peace and normalization entails an immediate cessation of violence by criminal gangs against municipal officials, police officers, NATO soldiers, journalists, and mayors,” declared Kurti.

The Prime Minister said that the presence of the police in the north could be proportionally reduced only if, as he put it, criminal gangs are removed from the north and the individuals who caused violence are arrested.

Prime Minister Kurti called on the international community to work towards intensifying the dialogue for the implementation of the agreements reached on February 27^th in Brussels and on March 18^th in Ohrid, North Macedonia.

“We need a balanced and fair sequence of implementing the basic agreement. Not only have both countries, Kosovo and Serbia, accepted the agreement, but it is also part of the conclusions of the European Council of February 9^th, 2023,” emphasized Kurti.

Referring to the tensions in the north, Kurti stated that until the snap elections in the northern municipalities, the current mayors should carry out their duties, and he called on Serbs to participate in the elections.

Furthermore, Kurti stated that municipal facilities are the property of Kosovo and that they will not be allowed to be transformed into properties owned by a specific ethnic group.

Regarding the violence caused by protesters in recent weeks in the north, Kurti said that it originates from and is ordered by Belgrade.

Prime Minister Kurti made these comments on Sunday at the General Assembly meeting of the Self-Determination Movement (Vetëvendosje).

It has been two weeks since Serbian groups have been protesting in front of municipal facilities in the four northern municipalities, opposing the entry of Albanian mayors into these facilities.

Protests have escalated from time to time, and on May 29^th, 30 members of KFOR who were trying to calm the situation on the ground were injured. Three soldiers were wounded by gunfire from the protesters.