NATO: They are taking the events in the north of Kosovo very seriously

2023-06-18 10:31:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

NATO said it is taking all steps to provide a safe environment and freedom of movement in northern Kosovo. The NATO spokesperson, Oana Lungescu, added that the mission of the Western military alliance in Kosovo, KFOR, takes "very seriously" the events in the north of Kosovo.

"KFOR's implementation of its mandate is steadfast, as evidenced by the deployment of 500 additional troops. We once again remind all parties of their obligations under the Military-Technical Agreement, including respect for the administrative border line, procedures for the Kosovo Police and the 2013 agreement for the deployment of the Kosovo Security Forces in the north. These obligations are designed to ensure coordinated action, to avoid escalation, to maintain and ensure a secure environment," NATO's response said.

According to the Military-Technical Agreement of Kosovo, which ended the war in Kosovo, KFOR is responsible for the security of the borders of the territory of Kosovo.

On June 14, in the border area between Kosovo and Serbia, three Kosovo border policemen were arrested by Serbian forces. Serbia claims that they were arrested "deep" inside its territory. But, Kosovo says that they were kidnapped inside the territory of Kosovo.

KFOR, as the main responsible for the security of the territory of Kosovo, said on June 16 that "based on the available data, it remains unclear where the Kosovo Police officials were at the time of the arrest".

A court in Kralevë has imposed a 30-day detention measure against three Kosovo police officers. The US Department of State has called on Serbia to immediately release the Kosovo police officers, who according to Washington, are being held in custody under baseless charges.

The case of the three Kosovo policemen comes at a time of increasing tensions in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs.

The Serbs in this area have been protesting since May 26, when the new Albanian mayors of the municipalities in the north entered the municipal buildings with the assistance of the Kosovo Police.

Tensions culminated on May 29, when in Zveçan, Serbian protesters clashed with members of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR. Dozens of people from both sides were injured in the clashes./REL