Macedonian authorities arrest a person from Kosovo at the request of Serbia

The Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia announced on Saturday evening that it has arrested a citizen from Kosovo, based on an international arrest warrant issued by Serbia through Interpol.

In a media release, the Ministry said the arrested person is a 55-year-old man with the initials EB.

He was arrested on Friday at the Blace border crossing, which connects Kosovo with North Macedonia.

"During the passport check, it was determined that he was registered with an 'arrest' measure at the request of Interpol," the Macedonian Ministry said in a statement.

The detainee has been handed over to Interpol police officers for further processing, she said.

Macedonian media have reported that this is Bajram Emini, a former soldier of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), from the city of Ferizaj.

Earlier on Saturday, Serbian Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said a suspect, referred to as a "Serbian citizen", had been arrested in Skopje on suspicion of war crimes in Kosovo in 1999.

Serbian authorities recognize Kosovo citizens as part of Serbia, as it does not recognize Kosovo's independence, declared in 2008.

Regarding the arrest of the Kosovo citizen, the Albanian opposition party in North Macedonia, the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), has reacted, describing this action as unacceptable.

The party called on the Government to review the practice of implementing arrest warrants issued by Serbia.

"We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Bajrami and call on the Government of North Macedonia to urgently review the practice of executing Serbia's arrest warrants. We cannot allow our state to become a tool of Belgrade's policies, to the detriment of Albanian citizens," the DUI's response states.

The custody judge is expected to make a decision regarding Emin - release or detention pending extradition.

Last summer, authorities in North Macedonia detained another former KLA soldier, Blerim Ramadani, also based on an arrest warrant issued by Serbia.

Ramadani, who is accused by Serbian authorities of war crimes in the Nerodime region in 1999, managed to escape from his relatives' home in North Macedonia, where he had been ordered by the court in Skopje to stay until August 16, prompting reactions from Serbia.

Dacic at the time described Ramadan's escape from house arrest as "scandalous".

Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, during an official visit to Pristina on November 18, had hinted that Skopje would not continue to implement the arrest warrants issued by Serbia through Interpol.

When asked about Serbia's demands for the arrest of former KLA members, Mickoski said that "anyone who does not violate the laws" of his country is "welcome" in North Macedonia.

However, Justice Minister Igor Filkov later stressed that Mickoski's statements were "misunderstood," and that the arrest warrants issued by Interpol at Serbia's request will continue to be applicable in North Macedonia. REL