The United States criticized the Serbian government for approving a draft law concerning Serbian judicial jurisdiction in Kosovo, which the European Union stated violates Belgrade’s obligations arising from the Brussels dialogue process.
“We agree with the EU…” wrote Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, on Thursday.
“Kosovo and Serbia must implement the 2023 agreement, including the Association of Serbian-majority municipalities and solutions arising from the dialogue for all citizens, including Serbs in Kosovo,” he added.
On Wednesday, the European Union urged Serbia to reconsider the draft laws approved by the Serbian government on Monday, which declare Kosovo a zone of special social protection and define, as stated, “the competence of Serbian judicial authorities in prosecuting criminal acts committed on the territory of Kosovo.”
These draft laws were announced by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić on September 13, as a counter-response to decisions made by Kosovo authorities to dissolve institutions appointed by Serbia.
The draft law regarding the competence of judicial authorities, which among other things proposes the establishment of a special prosecutor’s office and a special court “to prosecute all those participating in the persecution of the Serbian population in Kosovo,” provoked strong reactions from authorities in Kosovo.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated that such draft laws are hostile and aggressive acts against the constitutionality and security of Kosovo.
“We ask that international factors who have helped us greatly respond accurately and justly to this issue, but at the same time, they must continue to support us because Kosovo, as a republic in which they have contributed, is once again being attacked by our northern neighbor,” he said.
The European Union and the United States are calling on both parties to avoid actions that could escalate tensions and to focus on implementing the agreement for normalizing relations, which both sides agreed to last year in Brussels and Ohrid.
