Kurti addresses the Kosovo Serbs: We need new elections with the rule of law

2023-06-21 14:54:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has assessed that the development of early elections in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo is necessary, but with a free pre-election campaign. He emphasized that in order to realize such a thing, the rule of law is needed.

"So, an environment where there is no fear and no criminals. This is what we want and we must achieve it together", Kurti said in a video speech addressed to the Serbian community in their native language.

He also said that "with the rule of law, we can gradually reduce the number of policemen in municipal buildings".

On May 26, Kosovo Police assisted the entry of new Albanian mayors into municipal buildings in Zveçan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, which was strongly opposed by the Serb population, which is the majority in that region. Parallel municipalities according to the Serbian system, which are illegal for Kosovo, also work in those facilities.

Local Serbs in northern Kosovo had boycotted the April elections and now do not accept their results.

Since May 29, they have been protesting every day with the demands that the Albanian mayors do not go to work and that the special units of the Kosovo Police be completely withdrawn from the north.

Meanwhile, the international community has asked Pristina and Belgrade for an immediate extension of the situation in the north and a return to dialogue for the normalization of relations.

In his speech to the Serbs in the north, Prime Minister Kurti said that it is necessary that in the future "the Brussels Basic Agreement, of which the Ohrid Annex is also an integral part, is fully and unconditionally implemented".

At the end of February, Kosovo and Serbia reached an agreement on the normalization of relations based on the EU proposal and in March they agreed on the annex for its implementation. Among other things, this agreement foresees that Kosovo provides members of the Serbian community with a certain level of self-management, while Serbia must not violate the territorial integrity of Kosovo.

Kurti accused the authorities in Belgrade and the Serbian Progressive Party of "politicizing criminals" and said that Kosovo is fighting corruption.

"Walking together towards a better future, building strong bridges, the cause of what we want for ourselves and our families. Home is home, our country is the home of all of us", said Kurti, stressing that he does not want war.

The United States Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on June 20 that the crisis in Kosovo could turn into a regional conflict and that he is very concerned.

Earlier, the European Union, which mediates the dialogue for the normalization of relations between the two countries, called for an urgent crisis management meeting.

However, the date has not yet been determined as the leaders of the two countries have not confirmed their participation./ Rel