Declaring two organizations in the north as terrorists/ DASH: Uncoordinated decision

2023-06-30 07:34:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Declaring two organizations in the north as terrorists/ DASH: Uncoordinated

The American State Department told Radio Free Europe that the Government of Kosovo has not coordinated with Washington regarding the declaration of "Civil Defense" and "Northern Brigade" as terrorist organizations.

On June 29, the Government of Kosovo declared these two organizations as terrorists.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said during the justification of the decision that these two organizations, which operate in the north, present a "serious and direct threat to the constitutional order and security in Kosovo".

"The decision of the Government of Kosovo to declare these groups as terrorist organizations was not coordinated with the USA and other international partners. This decision should be coordinated with Kosovo's closest international partners, including those who have the primary responsibility to ensure Kosovo's stability. We again call on Kosovo to refrain from unilateral steps while we are working with all parties to resolve the current crisis", said a DASH spokesperson for Radio Free Europe.

According to Kurti, these two organizations have carried out actions "with terrorist elements", such as: armed attacks against members of the Kosovo Police, members of the European Union Mission for the Rule of Law - EULEX and soldiers of the NATO mission in Kosovo. KFOR.

The DASH spokesman said that the US condemns the "unacceptable violence against the troops of the NATO mission, KFOR".

"Those who have committed these attacks must be held accountable, after a regular process with full transparency," said the spokesman.

On May 29, Serbian protesters in Zveçan clashed with KFOR members. Dozens of people were injured on both sides during these clashes. The authorities in Kosovo have clarified that the decision to declare these two organizations as terrorists will not affect anyone who may have committed criminal offenses before this decision.

According to the law in Kosovo, when organizations are declared terrorist, their activity is immediately banned. Any further activity of theirs would carry serious legal consequences

"Civil Defense" and "Northern Brigade" count hundreds of their members from the ranks of the Serbian community.

Their declaration as a terrorist organization comes at a time when tensions in the north of Kosovo - inhabited by a majority of Serbs - have increased.

The local Serbs are opposing the new Albanian mayors of Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq, who were elected on April 23. These votes were boycotted by the Serbian population.

Since May 26, the Serbs have been protesting in the north, and since then several attacks with stun grenades and hand grenades have been recorded in this area, causing material damage, but without human consequences.

The international community has asked Kosovo and Serbia to immediately escalate the situation and Prishtina to organize new elections in the four municipalities in the north./ Rel