Kosovo president supports police action despite criticism from EU, US, Albania

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said Friday that police action was legitimate after tensions mounted in northern municipalities as local Serbs in Zvecan clashed with police outside the administration building.

''The actions of the Kosovo Police against the illegal structures of (Serbian President Aleksandar) Vucic's criminal gangs are legitimate, in execution of their constitutional duties and in defense of all citizens, regardless,'' Osmani said on social media.

The remarks came despite condemnation by the EU, US and Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken demanded that Kosovo halt the violent measures.

''We strongly condemn the actions by the Government of Kosovo that are escalating tensions in the north and increasing instability. We call on the Prime Minister Albin Kurti to immediately halt these violent measures and refocus on the EU-facilitated dialogue,'' he said.

The EU issued a similar statement by its lead spokesperson for external affairs, Peter Stano, who said: "Everyone has to take actions to de-escalate the tense situation and restore calm immediately.”

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama criticized the "dangerous and unnecessary" actions of Kosovo police.

''Does what is happening in Kosovo help the process in which all great friends of Kosovo and Albanians are engaged, for the normalization and mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia?! Surely not as long as our great friends themselves express deep concern!'' said Rama.

He said he agrees with the concerns of the US and the EU.

''I join them in the appeal to not proceed further on this not only dangerous but completely unnecessary path today, when the democratic world has put the dialogue, normalization and mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia at the center of attention,'' said Rama.

Serbia ordered its army Friday to advance to the administrative border with Kosovo and urged NATO to urgently stop violence against local Serbs in Kosovo.

President Aleksandar Vucic urged the army and security forces to be combat ready.

The move came after police in Kosovo clashed with local Serbs who gathered in front of the municipal building to block the newly-elected ethnic Albanian mayor from entering his office.

Police in riot gear were deployed around the premises, along with the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and NATO Kosovo Forces personnel.

Stun grenades and tear gas injured at least 10 people after a police vehicle was set on fire and automatic gunfire was heard, according to media reports.

- Local elections

Kosovo held elections for its northern municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok, Leposavic and Zvecan on April 23, with Serbs boycotting the ballot.

Voting ended with turnout at just 3.47%, according to Kosovo's Central Election Commission.

The EU said the low turnout did not offer any long-term political solutions regarding the municipalities, where a large Serb population resides.

Stano said the bloc regretted that not all parties and communities exercised their democratic right to participate and vote.

"The very low turnout, in particular among Kosovo Serb citizens, shows that this process is not and cannot be considered business as usual," said Stano. "These elections do not offer a long-term political solution for these municipalities. This can only happen through permanent return of Kosovo Serbs to the institutions, and for Kosovo to enable this return.”

Vucic called into question the elections' integrity, saying the Organizations for Security and Co-Operation in Europe (OSCE) and the EU did not monitor.

Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani announced that the elections would be postponed until April 23 due to the risky security situation.

Her decision came after the withdrawal of Kosovar Serbs from central and local institutions in the country.

Preparations for the elections, which had previously been scheduled for Dec. 18, 2022, were marred by a series of violent incidents.

In one, more than 10 parked vehicles belonging to Serbs were set on fire by unknown individuals in northern Kosovo in March.

Earlier this month, a Serbian official accused Kosovar authorities of trying to provoke Serbs by shooting a member of the local community.

Petar Petkovic, the director of Serbia's Office for Kosovo and Metohija, told reporters that Serbian national Milan Jovanovic was wounded by a police fire while on the northern Leposavic-Mitrovica road.

Kosovo authorities announced that they had suspended four police officers suspected of involvement, including one who may have fired the gun.

The Kosovo Central Election Commission decided to reduce the number of polling stations from 44 to 19 for the elections.

Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by ethnic Albanians, broke from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008. Serbia has not recognized its independence and sees its former province as a part of its territory.