BRUSSELS - "The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms today's shocking violence in Zvecan. The violent acts committed against the troops of the NATO mission in Kosovo (KFOR), the media, civilians and the police are absolutely unacceptable." This was written in a tweet by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Josep Borrell, regarding the clashes that took place in northern Kosovo that injured 34 soldiers, including 14 Italians. "The EU urges the Kosovo authorities and protesters to reduce tensions immediately and unconditionally: we expect the parties to act responsibly and immediately find a political solution through dialogue," Borrell added.
As a "first step" to de-escalate tensions I expect the Kosovo authorities to "stop police operations towards the municipal buildings in the North" and "violent protesters to cease hostilities and continue dialogue with the two leaders", he said during the press point with the President of Montenegro Jakov Milatovich . "The EU expects the parties to behave responsibly and pave the way for the implementation of the normalisation agreement: they are working to organise a high-level meeting as soon as possible."
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova warned the West that it must put an end to its "false propaganda" about Kosovo. Western countries, added the spokeswoman in a statement published on the Ministry's website, "must stop blaming the incidents in Kosovo on desperate Serbs who peacefully, and without weapons in hand, try to defend their legitimate rights and freedoms". The official warned NATO soldiers in Kosovo that they had acted in an "unprofessional" manner, provoking "unnecessary violence" and an "escalation" of the situation.
In yesterday's clashes in Zvecan, five Serbian demonstrators were arrested on charges of violence against KFOR soldiers. In announcing the news, the Interior Ministry in Pristina added that three of them have been released under regular procedure while the other two remain in pre-trial detention. Petar Petkovic, head of the Serbian Government Office for Kosovo, today called for the swift release of the other two Serbs. Negotiations are under way in this regard. In yesterday's riots in Zvecan more than 50 Serbs were injured in addition to the soldiers of the NATO Force.
Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti has declined to participate in the Global Forum for Foreign and Security Policy scheduled in Bratislava to closely follow the evolution of the high-tension situation. In reporting the news, the media in Pristina report that Kurti will not speak at the Globsec Forum 2023 even by video link.