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Concern after resignations of Serbian police officers

2023-08-19 12:31:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Concern after resignations of Serbian police officers

Members of the Kosovo Police near the border in Jarinje

Local and international authorities have expressed their concern about the resignations that are happening among the policemen of the Serbian community in Kosovo. 7 new Serbian police officers recently resigned, just one month after taking office. The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, threw accusations at Belgrade saying that " as a result of Belgrade's constant threats and intimidation ", the policemen are resigning.

Kosovo accuses Belgrade of pressure

"The resignation of police officers from the Serbian community is a direct result of ongoing threats and intimidation from Serbia, evidence that its policies continue to reflect the tactics of former Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic. We will continue to provide inclusiveness in all institutions and a safe Kosovo for everyone" , Osmani wrote on the social network.

Even the Minister of the Interior of Kosovo, Xhelal Svecla, said that " Serbian policemen are being forced to resign". "Police officials are being forced to resign through threats and pressure from Belgrade institutions. In this way, they are deliberately harming the Serbian community in Kosovo and violating our sovereignty. The international community must react strongly to Serbia's behavior" , wrote Svecla.

President, Vjosa Osmani

The resignations of Serbian policemen have caused reactions from the international community. The head of the EULEX mission for police and justice in Kosovo, Giovanni Pietro Barbano, said that the policemen who resigned had recently joined the Kosovo Police.

"EULEX is closely following these disturbing developments. The composition of the police must reflect and represent the society they serve and protect. Members of the non-majority communities of the Kosovo Police can contribute to the safety of their communities through patrolling," Giovanni wrote . on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Concerns of internationals

The German Ambassador to Kosovo, Jorn Rohde, said that "a multi-ethnic country requires a multi-ethnic police. All members of the Kosovo Police, regardless of which ethnic group they belong to, should be able to perform their duties without intimidation" , Ambassador Rohde wrote.

The US ambassador, Jeffrey Hovenier, expressed himself in the same line, who said that "he is closely following these disturbing developments" .

"We reiterate our commitment to a multi-ethnic Kosovo police force. I have said it several times, the Kosovo Police exists to serve all communities in Kosovo and for police officers to be able to carry out their work freely and without fear. We are closely following these developments" , he wrote in X.

Tensions in the north, KFOR soldiers

In November of last year, Serbian members of the police in northern Kosovo resigned, as part of the mass resignations of Serbian officials in the northern municipalities of Zveçan, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica. All this as a sign of dissatisfaction with a decision of the Government of Kosovo to re-register cars with illegal Serbian license plates to those of the Republic of Kosovo. Then, the Kosovar authorities announced a competition for the admission of new police officers, and a month ago, on July 14, 74 new police officers from non-majority communities started working in the Kosovo Police. Of this number, 46 belonged only to the Serbian community./ DW