Kosovo tightens border controls with Serbia after arrest of police officers: Premier

By Eren Beksac and Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia / PRISTINA, Kosovo (AA) — Kosovo on Thursday tightened border controls with Serbia, limiting crossings and stepping up vehicle inspections as tensions rise over the arrest of three Kosovar police officers.

"We have decided to limit traffic and increase inspections," said Prime Minister Albin Kurti after Security Council meeting in the capital Pristina, accusing Belgrade of attacking Kosovo "through illegal means and from border gates."

At the joint press conference with Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla, Kurti said the added measures at the border gates were not economic or commercial in nature, but were introduced for security reasons.

The Security Council meeting was held after Serbia detained three people identified as Kosovar police on Wednesday on grounds that they were "planning an action in Serbia."

Serbia said the individuals were equipped with automatic weapons in full combat gear with GPS devices, maps, and other equipment before they were detained by special anti-terror forces.

Interior Minister Svecla asserted that Serbia has been attempting to destabilize Kosovo in recent weeks.

According to Svecla, Serbian forces were in Kosovo when they carried out the operation that saw the "kidnapping" of the police officers.

"Yesterday's kidnapping was carried out by the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit of the Serbian Gendarmerie Organization and the special unit 'Kobra' of the Serbian Army," he said, adding that it had been planned in an area close to the northern border between the two countries.

A day earlier, Kosovar authorities decided to ban vehicles with Serbian license plates from entering the country as a security measure.

"For security reasons, (Kosovo's) institutions have decided to increase the level of border controls. Therefore, as an urgent step, it was decided to prohibit the entry of vehicles with Serbian license plates into the Republic of Kosovo, while the analysis of the situation by the security institutions continues. The next actions will be taken based on the recommendations of law enforcement institutions," said government spokesman Perparim Krieziu.

Tensions have risen in Kosovo following the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four Serb-dominated northern districts last month.

Ethnic Serbs have been protesting the election of the mayors since late May.

At least 30 KFOR soldiers were injured on May 29 while clashing with protesting Serbs who were attempting to prevent the newly elected mayor of Zvecan municipality from entering the town hall for an oath-taking ceremony before beginning his official responsibilities.

More than 53 civilians were also injured by shock bombs and tear gas, according to hospital sources.

Police in Kosovo said at least five people were detained following the clashes.