Kurti: Russia's allies are trying to distort the truth in Kosovo

2023-09-06 19:25:56, Kosova & Bota CNA

Kurti: Russia's allies are trying to distort the truth in Kosovo

Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, accused on Wednesday, as he said, Russia's allies of trying to distort the truth in Kosovo in a period of efforts to normalize relations with Serbia.

He made these comments at the Open Government Partnership high-level meeting being held in Estonia, focusing on cyber threats and disinformation.

"In Kosovo, efforts by Russia's allies to distort the truth, past and present, are visible and increasing. During the sensitive time, when our country is committed to the process mediated by the European Union and the United States of America to normalize relations with our northern neighbor, Serbia, but also for the full inclusion of minorities in the democratic processes of the state, without influence from outside, these cyber threats, such as disinformation, cyber bullying and other forms are particularly decisive", said Prime Minister Kurti.

The authorities in Kosovo have repeatedly accused Serbia that, with the support of Russia, it is aiming to destabilize Kosovo by supporting, as they say, criminal groups in the north of the country.

Since the end of May this year, tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remained high after the Albanian mayors who emerged from the April 23 elections boycotted by the Serbs, were sent to the offices of the northern municipalities with the support of the police. This led to violence in which 90 NATO peacekeepers were injured.

The European Union seeks to reduce tensions through a plan that foresees the suspension of police operations in the north, the relocation of mayors to alternative offices and the announcement of early elections with the unconditional participation of Kosovo Serbs.

International factors have called to avoid any actions that could escalate the situation in the north.

On September 8, the two-week deadline of the local authorities in North Mitrovica for the implementation of the decision to release a municipal building from the employees of the Serbian structures is expected to expire.

In the controversial building operate four institutions that are financed by the government of Serbia: the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, the Center for Social Work from Vushtrri and the so-called Administrative District of Mitrovica.

Lista Serbe, the main subject of Kosovo Serbs, said on Wednesday that it will not release the municipal building managed by Serbian structures in North Mitrovica and that this issue should be resolved within the dialogue in Brussels. They call on the international factor to do as they said "to prevent the Pristina regime from escalating the situation and causing additional tensions that could have unpredictable consequences on the ground".

The European Union and the United States have asked Kosovo to coordinate on all actions related to the northern municipalities, stressing that the decision of the authorities in North Mitrovica contradicts efforts to reduce tensions in the north inhabited by a Serbian majority.

The European Union has announced for September 14 a high-level meeting between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels, where solutions will be sought for the current situation between the two countries./ VOA