"We understand the concerns of the partners"/ Kurti: Any other option would be a breach of obligations

2023-05-27 09:28:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

"We understand the concerns of the partners"/ Kurti: Any other option

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that he understands the concerns of international partners regarding the situation created in the three municipalities in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, after the entry into the municipal offices of the new mayors was opposed by the local Serbs.

Through a post on Facebook, Kurti said on May 27 that the municipal buildings belong to the state of Kosovo, therefore, according to him, they were not "taken yesterday and will not be taken any other day".

"We are aware and understand the concerns raised by our international partners. But any other option would be a failure to fulfill the constitutional obligations of our Government towards the new mayors, it would be a failure to fulfill the obligations and obligations of the new mayors towards the citizens of the Republic, and it would make it impossible to provide basic municipal services to citizens" , Kurt said.

On Friday, May 26, the new Albanian mayors were assisted by the Kosovo Police, after groups of local residents objected to their going to the offices, which were previously used by Serbian officials.

A day earlier, they had sworn in schools and other public buildings of these municipalities for security reasons. Gunshots were also heard in Zveçan, while the Kosovo Police announced that at least five police officers were injured.

The increase in tensions was condemned by international factors, while Serbia raised its combat readiness.

The American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, through a statement, strongly condemned the actions of the Government of Kosovo, which according to him, are escalating the tensions in the north, warning that they will have "repercussions in the bilateral relations" of the USA with Kosovo.

"We call on Prime Minister [of Kosovo] Albin Kurti to change course and all parties to refrain from any further actions that will inflame tensions and incite conflict," said Blinken.

Even the European Union condemned the clashes in the north, asking for measures to reduce tensions.

"The EU will not accept any further unilateral, provocative actions," said the European bloc's spokesman, Peter Stano.

Calls for retreat and escalation of the situation were also made jointly by the QUINT states: the USA, France, Italy, Germany and the United Kingdom.

In the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo, in the elections of April 23, four new Albanian mayors were elected, since the Serbian parties did not participate in these extraordinary elections.

The elections were held after the resignation of the leaders from the ranks of Lista Serbe - the largest party of Kosovo Serbs - in November last year.

This party abandoned all the institutions of Kosovo, due to the decision of the Government in Pristina to carry out the process of re-registration of cars with illegal Serbian license plates.

The elections were boycotted by the majority Serb population in that area, which now does not accept the results, namely the new mayors.

Participation in the April elections was 3.47 percent of the total number of registered voters./ Rel