Serbian Citizens: The security situation in the north is “severe”
Serbian citizens rate the general security situation in the north as “severe,” especially since Prime Minister Albin Kurti took office. Analysts claim that a very positive environment has now been created in this part of the country, while security experts describe the situation as calm but fragile.
A citizen from North Mitrovica, who wished to remain anonymous, told KosovaPress that since Prime Minister Kurti came to power, the security situation in the north has been “catastrophic.” According to him, a peaceful situation in the north cannot be created “by pointing long gun barrels at the Serbian population.”
Serbian Citizen: If things aren’t good in the north, they won’t be good in the south either
“The security situation in the north is catastrophic. Not only after the Banjskë incident but since Kurti came to power. He can’t point a gun at everyone in the north and expect a good situation. If it’s not good here, it won’t be good in the southern part either. If it’s good here, it’ll be good there too… There should be peace without guns, and Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo should live together as we have until now. The situation now in the north is a disaster—today a small disaster, tomorrow a bigger one, and it will keep getting worse,” he said.
Analyst Branisllav Krstiq: A very positive environment has been created
Analyst Branisllav Krstiq emphasized that there has not been a single interethnic incident in the north for the past six months and that a very positive environment has been created there. He stated that Kosovo Police officers are performing their duties very correctly and professionally.
Krstiq said that the only thing bothering Serbs in the north are the checkpoints almost every ten kilometers, making them feel collectively arrested. He added that he is awaiting the opening of the main bridge over the Ibar for vehicle traffic and assured that citizens have no reason to worry.
Krstiq: Traffic in northern roads is now safer
“Now we have a very positive atmosphere and environment. Traffic on the roads is safer, and the traffic police are performing their duties correctly. Serbs in the north still feel like they are all arrested because there are no bunkers, patrols, and checkpoints every ten kilometers anywhere else in the world. This bothers the citizens. But, looking to the future, I am confident we won’t have serious tensions. In the past six months, there have been no interethnic incidents, and the police have stopped those young Albanian patriots who came to the north to provoke. The police have solved this problem very well and positively. We are now waiting for the bridge to open, which is normal, and I am sure we have no reason to worry,” explained analyst Krstiq.
Security Expert Arben Dashevci: The situation is calm but fragile with potential for tension
On the other hand, security expert Arben Dashevci describes the general situation as calm but fragile, with potential for tension. He does not expect internal tensions because, as he said, there is a significant awareness among Serbian and Albanian citizens. Externally, he added, fragility or attempts to escalate or tension the situation will always come only from Serbia.
Dashevci: Those who escalated the situation are no longer in Kosovo
“The situation is calm, but the security status remains at an orange level, meaning it is fragile with potential for tension. There is no one left to escalate the situation in the Republic of Kosovo internally, due to the remarkable awareness among Serbian and Albanian citizens. However, externally, fragility or attempts to escalate or tension the situation will always come from Serbia. Nothing has been the same since September 24 because, after that, security changes not monthly but daily, considering the geopolitics in Ukraine and Russia’s attempt in the Balkans along with its ally Serbia. Thus, Kosovo is very well defended, always with our international allies, specifically the USA, our eternal ally. In the past nine months, there have been no interethnic incidents. You can cross the Ibar bridge to have coffee wherever you want and do business, always having Kosovo police nearby, whether in uniform or civilian clothes. This is an unprecedented relaxation because those who escalated the situation and were the nightmare of the population are no longer in the Republic of Kosovo and will never return. Without a doubt, Serbian citizens and other communities have full confidence in the Kosovo police,” expressed Dashevci.
Background: September 24, 2023, Serbian paramilitary aggression in Banjskë
The aggression of Serbian paramilitary structures on September 24, 2023, in Banjskë, once again demonstrated the fragility of the security architecture in the Balkans, especially in the context of the politics and threats stemming from Serbian hegemony. This led the Kosovo Police to increase their presence throughout the north, enhancing vigilance and the number of Special Unit forces, especially around the border area with Serbia.
