Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Operations Tom Goffus stated that \u201cit is urgent for both Pristina and Belgrade to take immediate steps towards de-escalation\u201d and that \u201ca sustainable stability solution is a political one\u201d, during his visit to Kosovo on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is also crucial for both parties to properly coordinate actions on the ground and respect existing agreements,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He also called on both parties to engage in the dialogue facilitated by the European Union and to implement the Ohrid Agreement as soon as possible.<\/p>\n
During his visit to Kosovo on Wednesday, Goffus met with President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.<\/p>\n
In Kurti\u2019s meeting with Goffus, the Government of Kosovo stated that the Prime Minister raised concerns \u201cabout the lack of clarity from KFOR\u201d regarding the arrest of three Kosovo police officers on 14 June, \u201cdespite ample evidence provided by Kosovo institutions\u201d.<\/p>\n
Kosovo authorities have consistently stated that the police officers were abducted within the country\u2019s territory, while authorities in Serbia have claimed that they were \u201cdeep\u201d within their territory when arrested.<\/p>\n
The NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, stated on June 16 that it was unclear where the three Kosovo police officers were at the time of arrest by Serbian forces.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the arrest of three Kosovo Police officers on 14 June, the KFOR mission, led by NATO, reviewed the incident location and spoke with representatives of institutions in Kosovo and Serbian authorities. Based on the available data, it remains unclear where the Kosovo Police officers were at the time of arrest,\u201d the KFOR statement said.<\/p>\n
According to the government\u2019s announcement, the Prime Minister also raised concerns about reports of arms smuggling through Serbian Orthodox churches using ambulances.<\/p>\n
Allegations of arms smuggling through ambulance vehicles and their storage in churches in Kosovo were made public by British legislator Alicia Kearns during a debate in the British Parliament.<\/p>\n
British legislator Kearns stated that British troops, part of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, \u201cdiscovered that weapons were being smuggled across the border from Serbia into Orthodox churches in Kosovo using ambulances\u201d.<\/p>\n
The KFOR mission stated that the incidents mentioned by the British legislator refer to the year 2022 when \u201ca battalion of the British army was deployed in northern Kosovo in support of the NATO mission\u201d.<\/p>\n
The mission stated that reports on the alleged presence of illicit weapons were reported to the KFOR headquarters, but no evidence of smuggling was found during investigations.<\/p>\n
During the meeting with NATO\u2019s high-ranking official, Prime Minister Kurti also reportedly mentioned the punitive measures imposed by the European Union against Kosovo, stating that they have created an asymmetry in the dialogue.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rule of law, absence of violent protests and criminal activities, and early elections are the way forward towards de-escalation, and the government is fully committed to this,\u201d said the statement from the Prime Minister\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
NATO\u2019s Assistant Secretary General for Operations was also received in a meeting by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.<\/p>\n
According to a press release from the Presidency of Kosovo, Osmani discussed with Goffus the security situation in the northern part of the country and steps to de-escalate the situation in that region.<\/p>\n
In the media statement from the Presidency, it was stated that in the meeting, President Osmani emphasized that the institutions of Kosovo are committed to overcoming current challenges together with international partners and strengthening the rule of law.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe also stressed that Kosovo remains committed to its responsibilities as a reliable NATO partner, actively contributing to regional security,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n
Goffus\u2019 visit to Kosovo comes at a time of high tensions in northern Kosovo, predominantly populated by Serbs, and the international community has been continuously calling for de-escalation of the situation.<\/p>\n
Since the end of May, Serbs have been protesting in Zve\u010dan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavi\u0107, opposing the employment of new Albanian mayors in municipal buildings. Local Serb residents are also demanding the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from the vicinity of the buildings.<\/p>\n
Local Serbs clashed with KFOR forces in Zve\u010dan on 29 May. Dozens of individuals from both sides were injured in the clashes.<\/p>\n
The international community has called on Kosovo and Serbia to take immediate steps to reduce tensions and hold new local elections in the north.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Assistant Secretary General of NATO for Operations Tom Goffus stated that \u201cit is urgent for both Pristina and Belgrade to take immediate steps towards de-escalation\u201d and that \u201ca sustainable stability solution is a political one\u201d, during his visit to Kosovo on Wednesday. \u201cIt is also crucial for both parties to properly coordinate actions on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":56920,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[2471,3295,817,300,1098,243,151,383,791,2203,301,2047,2585],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n