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Kosova

Protests in North Kosovo, KFOR: Violent groups organized to attack

Politiko 2023-06-09 14:03:42

Protests in North Kosovo, KFOR: Violent groups organized to attack

The spokesman of KFOR in Kosovo, Colonel Andrea Gallieni, said that some criminal groups were behind the violent protests that took place in Zveçan on May 29. Gallieni said that violent groups are organized to attack, and that it is up to the Kosovo Police to identify them.

That day, Serbian protesters clashed with members of KFOR, and there were injuries from both sides. In a media conference, Gallieni commented on Friday the events that took place in the north of Kosovo, since May 29.

"It is very important that all parties refrain from retaliatory actions. Because, as these events have proven, everything can escalate to a great level of violence, therefore it is very important that all parties take into account the consequences and risks of their actions".

He said that both sides should bear responsibility.

"One side, for making decisions, without taking into account the level of security, and the other side to react to the violent actions that have been seen among the protesters."

The local Serbs are continuing the protests in the three municipalities in the north of Kosovo, Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq, also on June 9. They are protesting regularly to oppose the entry of Albanian mayors into municipal buildings.

Gallieni has estimated that the situation in the north is calming down, in terms of security.

"When these events started, it means a few days before May 29, I cannot say that there was coordination, because it was a unilateral action, taken by the institutions of Kosovo, to send the mayors to the municipalities, through the use of strength. However, later, we were organized to engage in advance in these municipalities, and on May 29 we were there, and we intervened between the parties".

The KFOR official said that since June 5, over 500 NATO members have gone to Kosovo to reinforce the mission.

Gallieni said that the forces are being trained and will be engaged in a few days. He said that reinforcements will be in Kosovo "as much as needed". The international community has recently come up with three demands for the Government of Kosovo: the extension of the situation in the north, the holding of new elections and the return to the dialogue for the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations. The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said that Kosovo can announce new elections in the municipalities in the north of Kosovo, if 20 percent of the voters sign a petition with this request./rel

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