Balkans | Kosovo Police increases its presence in the north of the country

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Çelal Svečla reported that the presence of security forces had increased in Serb-populated areas in the north of the country.

Svechla stated, in a post on her social media account, that the Kosovo Police have the authority and duty to ensure security, ensure order and the rule of law.

Svicla explained that they considered it necessary to increase the police presence in order to ensure security due to the successive armed attacks against police officers and citizens in the north of the country in recent days. Use the phrase.

Sweden urged citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the Kosovo Police, which works for the order and safety of all citizens without discrimination.

In a statement, the Kosovo Police also indicated that the institution has the capacity operationally to keep the situation under control and maintain order throughout the country.

While the authorities did not share information about the number of police forces that were sent to the region and which cities they were stationed in, Serbian media wrote that more than 200 police officers had been sent to the northern city of Mitrovica.

Kosovar President Fyoza Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti argued that the events in the north were organized by Serbia. Osmani stated, in a statement to reporters today, that whenever Kosovo and Serbia are close to reaching a final agreement, Serbia is trying to create a crisis in the north of the country by using the Kosovo Serbs.

Explosions in northern Kosovo

Ahead of early local elections in 4 municipalities in northern Kosovo on December 18, explosions and sirens were heard in some cities in the north on December 6.

EULEX forces have increased their presence on the Iberian bridge that connects the southern and northern sides of Mitrovica.

Officials from the Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ) went to their offices in the north, escorted by the Kosovo Police, but were unable to enter.

According to the Kosovo Police statement, stun grenades, grenades and firearms were used in the explosions, which continued on 7 December. While there were no injuries in the incidents, the offices of the Municipal Elections Commission were damaged.

– Kosovo and Serbia tension

The Government of Kosovo, in line with the principle of reciprocity with Serbia at the end of July, on the issue of “issuing temporary permit forms to those entering/exiting Kosovo with Serbian identity cards” and “converting license plates issued by the Serbian authorities to Serbs in Kosovo to ‘RKS’ (Republic of Kosovo) registration plates”. Announce that the decisions will come into force.

The Serbs in Kosovo reacted to this and closed the border crossings in the north of the country, and tensions rose in the country.

The Kosovo government decided to postpone the implementation, which caused the crisis, until September 1, on the condition that all barriers placed on the roads leading to the border gates with Serbia be removed.

Finally, the Kosovo side stated that the process of re-registering license plates, which they described as “illegal”, has been postponed to April 2023, and that owners of such vehicles will first be warned, then fined, and finally be placed.

The two sides reached an agreement on November 23, mediated by the European Union, to de-escalate tensions and move toward normalizing relations.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

The Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue process, initiated in 2011 with the mediation of the European Union, aims to normalize relations and eventual recognition of each other between the two countries.

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