Kurti's strong statement: Vucic leaves open the possibility of invading Kosovo

2024-02-13 14:02:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti's strong statement: Vucic leaves open the possibility of invading

Ilir Meta

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the events of September in Banjska of Zveçan, the protests of May in the north of Kosovo and the increase of the Russian presence in the Western Balkan region make the signing of the Agreement on the road to normalization between Kosovo more "urgent than ever". and Serbia. But, with the refusal of the Serbian president, Aleksandar Vucic, to sign this agreement, according to Kurti, he is leaving open the possibility of "invading Kosovo".

Last February, Kosovo and Serbia agreed in Brussels on this agreement, while in April in Ohrid, agreement was reached on the Annex for its implementation. However, the parties did not sign the agreement, but the European bloc, which mediates the dialogue for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, said that it is binding for the parties.

"I cannot see any other reason for refusing to sign [by Serbia]. Then, they want to keep this door open [of invading Kosovo] and have a window of opportunity to come back and commit aggression", Kurti said during a panel discussion organized by the Chatham House Institute on February 13.

The agreement on the road to normalization, of 11 articles, provides, among other things, a level of self-management for the Serbian community in Kosovo and mutual recognition of the state symbols, while asking Pristina and Belgrade to also implement all the agreements previously achieved during the dialogue.

In the discussion panel, Kurti said that the "authoritarian regime" of Serbia "is holding the whole region back. According to him, Belgrade to a large extent recognizes Kosovo de facto, but not de jure.

The Kosovar Prime Minister said that Serbia uses Kosovo to maintain good relations with Russia and China.

"There is a general thesis that Serbia is maintaining good relations with the Russian Federation and China, in order to use them in aggressiveness against Kosovo. But I think it's the opposite. Namely, Serbia uses its aggressiveness towards Kosovo to maintain good relations with the Russian Federation and China. Because to dictators who don't trust anyone, you have to prove yourself again and again. I think that this is what Vucic is doing. With his aggressiveness towards Kosovo, he is trying to maintain good relations with the Kremlin", Kurti said.

Speaking about the September events in Banjska, when a group of armed Serbs attacked the Kosovo police killing a sergeant, Kurti again accused Serbia of this event, which Kosovo considers a terrorist attack.

During the clashes on September 24, three Serbian attackers were also killed. The responsibility for the attack was taken by Millan Radoicic, the former vice-president of Lista Serbe, the main party of Serbs in Kosovo that enjoys the support of official Belgrade.

Kurti said that through Serbia, Russia is increasing its presence in the Western Balkans.

"So, Serbia's alliance with Russia is not only a theoretical threat to Europe and the Balkans. It is a real threat that Kosovo, but not only, constantly experiences. Through Serbia, we have seen the rise of Russian presence in the Balkans, whether through media, intelligence, or other forms of interference.

The authorities in Kosovo had declared after the attack in Banjska that they were investigating possible Russian involvement in it.

At the end of last year, in a report by the Balkan Network for Investigative Journalism (BIRN), it was said that Kosovo is exposed to disinformation and narratives coming from Russia and China, which aim to incite inter-ethnic and inter-religious war in Kosovo./ REL