Balkans | NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg and Serbian President Vucic discuss the situation in northern Kosovo

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met to discuss the tense situation in northern Kosovo.

In a statement about the meeting in Brussels, Stoltenberg stated that the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo has been operating in the region for years, and stated that its mission is based on the authority granted by the United Nations (UN), and that the mission in Kosovo is carrying out its mission with integrity.

Noting that ISFOR soldiers were attacked in the events in May and 93 soldiers were wounded, 3 of them seriously, Stoltenberg said this was unacceptable.

Stoltenberg indicated an increase in the presence in the region by sending 500 troops, and said: “We will continue to maintain our authority in a neutral manner. We will ensure that we have the forces necessary to exercise the UN mandate.” He said.

Stoltenberg reiterated his call for de-escalation and avoidance of rhetoric in northern Kosovo, stressing that the only solution is to continue constructively in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue facilitated by the European Union.

Vucic: NATO must guarantee the security of the Serbs

On the other hand, Serbian President Vucic said that he is concerned about developments not only in northern Kosovo, but also in general.

Vucic blamed the Kosovo authorities for the escalation of tensions, after making it clear that the developments in Kosovo are no longer only a political issue, but also a security one.

There are Serbs who were shot and also arrested based on unfounded accusations, Vucic stated, “If we look at the UN resolution, we see that NATO is responsible for the security and safety of Kosovo. We ask you to make sure of the safety and security of the Serbs. Because in the past six months, Albanians shot 6 Serbs. He said.

Tensions in northern Kosovo

On May 26, Kosovo Serbs protested against the election of Albanian mayors who won local elections on April 23 in the municipalities of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić, where Serbs are concentrated in northern Kosovo.

There was a clash between the Kosovo police, who were sent to the area to protect the Albanian mayors, and the Kosovo Serbs.

Serbia detained 3 people, proven to be members of the Kosovo police, in the border area of ​​the two countries on the grounds that they were “planning an action in Serbia” on June 14, while Kosovo claimed that the police had been “kidnapped”. From Serbia. Serbia released the Kosovo police on June 26.

The Kosovo police also arrested about 10 Kosovo Serbs for various reasons, and called on Serbia to release these people as soon as possible.

It is reported that the main cause of tension between the two countries, which meet face to face from time to time, is that Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, as its territory.

Within the scope of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process, initiated in 2011 with the mediation of the European Union (EU), efforts are being made to find a common way to normalize relations and eventually reach the two countries. We know each other.

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