The commander of KFOR, Ozkan Ulutaş, has said that the attack in Banjska in September 2023 was a serious escalation of tensions in the region.
Even after this terrorist attack, the situation in the north of Kosovo, as he evaluates, remains tense.
“The Banjska incident in the north of Kosovo in September 2023 was a serious escalation of tensions in the region. After this, the situation in the north of Kosovo remains tense. Considering the complex dynamics and the potential for further unrest, especially in the north of Kosovo, the international community, including KFOR, remains vigilant,” Ulutaş declared.
Furthermore, he clearly outlined KFOR’s aim, while sharing the message that dialogue remains the only solution for peace between Pristina and Belgrade.
“Our goal is to prevent any recurrence of violence and to help create conditions to encourage dialogue and normalization of relations between Pristina and Belgrade. The daily activities of KFOR aim to create the necessary security framework for the EU-facilitated dialogue to progress. As NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said during his visit in November, ‘Belgrade and Pristina must engage constructively in the EU-facilitated dialogue. This is the only way towards peace and sustainable stability’.”
He also mentioned the current situation in the north.
“Generally, the situation is calm but remains fragile. We are closely monitoring any significant security development in the region because awareness of the situation is vital for us.”
