{"id":22509,"date":"2021-10-14T13:30:24","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T11:30:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/?p=22509"},"modified":"2021-10-14T21:55:33","modified_gmt":"2021-10-14T19:55:33","slug":"foreign-diplomats-butt-heads-over-altercation-in-northern-kosovo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/euronews.al\/en\/foreign-diplomats-butt-heads-over-altercation-in-northern-kosovo\/","title":{"rendered":"Foreign diplomats butt heads over altercation in northern Kosovo"},"content":{"rendered":"

The intervention of the Kosovo Police in northern Mitrovica following the altercation that erupted between citizens and police<\/a><\/strong> over an anti-smuggling operation has sparked a heated debate especially after a statement made by the head of the Serbian List, who compared the operation of the Kosovo Police to an anti-Jewish program in Nazi Germany.<\/p>\n

German ambassador, Jorn Rohde reacted harshly to the remarks made by the head of the Serbian List, Goran Rakiq, who compared the police anti-smuggling operation to the \u2018Crystal Night\u2019 \u2013 a pogrom carried out by Nazi Germany against Jewish civilians.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop! The comparison of today\u2019s police action with the \u201ccrystal night\u201d is unacceptable. Such comparisons contribute towards narratives of Holocaust distortion and denial. Protect the Facts,\u201d \u2013 wrote the German ambassador.<\/p>\n

Kosovo\u2019s rapporteur to the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon has also criticized the stance held by the high representative of the EU on Foreign Policies and Security, Josep Borrell, who made a Twitter post shortly after yesterday’s incident, calling the operation \u201cunilateral and uncoordinated\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease criticize countries where the Rule of Law is not implemented. EU should support countries fighting Organized Crime and corruption. State institutions doing their job deserve our full respect. EU-facilitated Dialogue is not about daily police operations,\u201d \u2013 wrote Von Cramon.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, NATO looks at the Kosovo Police operation that took place on October 13th, as an \u201caction that was only looking to enforce the law\u201d adding that KFOR\u2019s mission in Kosovo is in continuous communication with all relevant authorities.<\/p>\n

Yesterday, the Serbian president, Alexandar Vucic met with representatives of the Serbian ethnic minorities living in Kosovo, in the vicinity of Serbia\u2019s border with Kosovo. In the presence of high-ranking military officials and the defense minister, he said that he\u2019s \u201cprepared to pay whatever price in the name of protecting peace and stability\u201d.<\/p>\n

Representatives of opposition parties within Kosovo have also come out with accusations against PM Kurti\u2019s ordered police operation, accusing it of possessing \u2018political undertones\u2019.<\/p>\n

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