The U.S. State Department told Radio Free Europe that the Government of Kosovo has not coordinated with Washington regarding the declaration of the “Civil Protection” and “Northern Brigade” as terrorist organizations.
The Government of Kosovo declared these two organizations as terrorist on June 29.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated in the justification of the decision that these two organizations, operating in the north, pose a “serious and direct threat to constitutional order and security in Kosovo”.
“The decision of the Government of Kosovo to declare these groups as terrorist organizations has not been coordinated with the U.S. and other international partners. This decision should have been coordinated with Kosovo’s closest international partners, including those who have the primary responsibility to ensure stability in Kosovo. We once again call on Kosovo to refrain from unilateral steps while we are working with all parties to resolve the current crisis,” said a State Department spokesperson to Radio Free Europe.
According to Kurti, these two organizations have carried out acts “with terrorist elements”, such as armed attacks against members of the Kosovo Police, members of the European Union Rule of Law Mission – EULEX, and NATO soldiers in Kosovo, KFOR.
The State Department spokesperson stated that the U.S. condemns the “unacceptable violence against NATO’s KFOR mission troops”.
“Those responsible for these attacks must be held accountable through a proper and transparent process,” the spokesperson said.
On May 29, Serbian protesters in Zvečan clashed with KFOR members. Dozens of individuals were injured on both sides during these clashes.
Authorities in Kosovo have clarified that the decision to declare these two organizations as terrorist will not affect anyone who may have committed criminal acts before this decision.
According to the law in Kosovo, when organizations are declared as terrorist, their activities are immediately prohibited. Any further activity by them would have serious legal consequences.
“Civil Protection” and “Northern Brigade” have hundreds of members from the Serbian community.
The declaration of these organizations as terrorist comes at a time when tensions in northern Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Serbs, have escalated.
Local Serbs are opposing the newly elected Albanian mayors of Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić, who were elected on April 23. These elections were boycotted by the Serbian population.
Since May 26, Serbs have been protesting in the north, and since then, several attacks with improvised explosive devices and hand grenades have been reported in the area, causing material damage but no casualties.
The international community has called on Kosovo and Serbia to immediately de-escalate the situation, and for Pristina to organize new elections in the four municipalities in the north.
