Petar Petkovic within the village of Pasjane, Kosovo, October 2022. Picture: kim.gov.rs
The Director of Serbia’s Workplace for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, stated that Serbia will “rethink” returning a part of its safety personnel to Kosovo after Kosovo elevated its police presence within the Serb-majority north of the nation.
“Belgrade will think about, in accordance with [UN SC] Decision 1244, the return of as much as 1,000 [members] of our safety forces to the territory of Kosovo and Metohija as supplied for underneath Decision 1244,“ Petkovic advised media on Thursday night.
Blerim Vela, an adviser to Kosovo’s President, stated that Serbia was “shifting from covert violent actions of its unlawful constructions in Kosovo to overt threats to make use of police and navy forces to conduct aggression towards Kosovo”.
“As per Russia’s playbook, it is a blatant risk to hazard peace and stability in Kosovo and the broader area,” Vela stated on Twitter.
Hours earlier, Kosovo police stated in press launch that their precedence is “to supply safety for all residents. Due to this fact, assessing the scenario and the present traits within the northern municipalities, the police will improve the police presence within the north within the coming days to realize the aims”.
Police additionally introduced that at round 11pm on Thursday a police officer was injured in Serbovc, a village close to Zvecan/Zvecane, when the patrol was attacked by armed individuals in a drive-by capturing.
“The police officer suffered gentle accidents and the police automotive was closely broken. Related police items went to the scene whereas the injured officer was transported to the Household Drugs Heart for medical care,” Police stated.
BIRN journalists had been assaulted on Friday morning by a masked individual in Mitrovica North, close to the Technical College, as they had been on their manner
The incident occurred whereas the BIRN group’s automotive approached the crossroads close to the varsity, whereas a gaggle of masked individuals was seen observing the roadside.
The attacker hit the automotive along with his fists whereas heavy objects had been thrown within the path of the automotive by masked group.
The Affiliation of Journalists of Kosovo, AJK, on Friday condemned the assault and expressed “deep concern” over the safety of journalists reporting from northern Kosovo.
“AJK condemns the assault and calls for from Kosovo Police to supply obligatory circumstances for journalists who’re reporting from this a part of the nation,” AJK stated.
UPDATE | Just a few days after #Kosovo PM Albin Kurti’s announcement, police tonight began growing its presence within the north.
The deployment comes after Serb members of the police resigned en masse in November.Background: https://t.co/v4Xs9RSctl pic.twitter.com/oD9YaqHWE6
— Balkan Perception (@BalkanInsight) December 8, 2022
After the Kosovo struggle, in June 1999 Serbian police and navy withdraw from Kosovo and in accordance with UN SC decision 1244 “after the withdrawal an agreed variety of Yugoslav and Serb navy and police personnel will likely be permitted to return to Kosovo”, to carry out some capabilities.
These capabilities are: liaison with the worldwide civil mission and the worldwide safety presence; marking/clearing minefields; sustaining a presence at Serb patrimonial websites and sustaining a presence at key border crossings.
Petkovic advised media in Belgrade that some “over 300 to 350 policemen, 100 patrol policemen with bulletproof vests and 100 ROSU [former police unit] members with lengthy barrels in full navy gear and with armored autos entered the north of Kosovo and Metohija at round 20:30 from the path of South Mitrovica”.
He added they “deployed and actually occupied and blocked the whole metropolis of Kosovska Mitrovica with a view to lastly station themselves within the combined settlements positioned within the northern a part of Kosovska Mitrovica”
“The rationale for the incursion of the Albanian police within the north of Kosovo and Metohija is allegedly that the Albanians who stay in combined communities are afraid of what’s taking place within the north of Kosovo and Metohija”, Petkovic advised media.
After Serbs from north of Kosovo collectively withdraw from Kosovo establishments within the starting of November – as continuation of years lengthy licence plates dispute – Kosovo authorities determined to modify Serbian minister and MPs, EULEX improve their presence within the subject and authorities additionally determined to prepare native elections in 4 municipalities in north of Kosovo, largely populated with Serbs, which already triggered incidents.
