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Kosova

EU: Kosovo has a mandate for investigations, Serbia to cooperate unconditionally

Politiko 2023-10-02 14:49:01

The spokesperson of the European Union, Peter Stano, said on Monday that the Kosovo Police has a mandate to investigate the attacks that were carried out in Banjska in Zveçan on September 24, while Serbia has an obligation to cooperate, unconditionally.

He made these statements while being asked about the latest evidence published by the Kosovo authorities regarding this attack. He reiterated that the EU is waiting for the full results of the investigations, so that it has a clear overview of what happened, and based on them the member countries can take decisions, including any possible measures against Serbia.

Asked about the responsibility that the former vice-president of the Serbian List, Millan Radojčić, has taken for the attack, and whether the EU will help him to be extradited to Kosovo, Stano only said that the European bloc expects "full, transparent and free cooperation conditions from Serbia", in order to clarify not only who prepared and carried out the terrorist attack, but also who is behind them".

"We have seen what Radojčić said. All facts must be verified and clarified. We expect full cooperation from Serbia. We do not make our commitment through the media, but through our channels", said the EU spokesperson.

Asked about Belgrade's statements that the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo, EULEX, was not allowed to participate in the investigations, Stano said that "EULEX does not need a spokesperson who speaks on behalf of this mission." on the other hand, but it has its own office for this".

"Every day new evidence comes out. We do not comment on them, but we await final results that clarify all the circumstances of the terrorist attack. We expect full cooperation from Serbia. The EU has clearly said that we are ready to take measures against Serbia as well, if the member countries estimate that they have sufficient evidence", said Stano.

The EU spokesperson has left no doubt that the Kosovo authorities have the mandate to investigate Banjska's case.

"This happened in the territory of Kosovo and the investigations are done by the Kosovo Police. We have very good cooperation with him", he said.

Asked if it makes sense to continue the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in this situation, since Serbia may also go to elections in December, the EU spokesperson said that the EU and its partners see the continuation of the dialogue as the only way to solve problems.

"There are always election cycles. But we must resume the dialogue, because it is the only way to normalize relations. If there was normalization, we would not have the situation we have. Therefore, we call on the EU and partners for the parties to return to dialogue", said Stano.

Kosovo and Serbia have been part of the dialogue mediated by the EU, for the normalization of relations, since 2011. The parties have signed a number of agreements, but not all of them have been implemented./REL