The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has called on the West to sanction all persons who he said communicate and cooperate with blacklisted persons in the Western Balkans.
Speaking at the General Council of his Vetevendosje party, Kurti said that Serbia should also be conditioned on “current benefits”.
“Therefore, the democratic West, in particular the European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, we call on Serbia to condition its current benefits, not just future ones from the EU, the United States and the United Kingdom. The US, EU and UK should sanction those who cooperate with blacklisted persons in the Balkans. Those who are members of the ‘Civil Protection’ and ‘Northern Brigade ‘ organizations. Otherwise criminals walking free, otherwise blacklists are not effective, ” Kurti said.
The organizations “civil protection” and” Northern Brigade ” were declared terrorist organizations by the Government of Kosovo last June.
Kurti said the blacklist should deliver “results through sanctioning all those who communicate and cooperate with them””
He demanded that Kosovo authorities hand over to Milan Radoicic and members of his group, which Kosovo accuses of organizing an armed attack on Kosovo police last September.
In Banjska, on September 24, 2023, a group of armed Serbs killed a Kosovo police officer. During the exchange of fire, three Serbian attackers were also killed.
The attack was claimed by Milan Radoicic, a politician and businessman from northern Kosovo. Authorities in Kosovo have filed an indictment against him and 44 other people in the case in Banjska, Zvecan.
Only three accused persons have been arrested in Kosovo and Radoicic and others are on the run. Radoicic is believed to be in Serbia.
The U.S. and the European Union have also demanded that all those involved in the armed attack in Banjska face justice.
Kurti also accused Serbia of not respecting the agreements reached in the framework of the EU-mediated dialogue. He also defended the actions of Kosovo authorities in the north of the country, which the international community has described as unilateral and uncoordinated.
“Those who complain about our unilateral actions are complaining about why we declared independence, are complaining about why we won the International Court of Justice, are complaining about why the oversight of independence ended. The rule of law for the sovereign state is like breathing,” Kurti said.
The Kosovo government has previously said that actions in the north – including closing institutions that have functioned under the Serbian system, banning the use of the Serbian Dinar for cash payments and other actions – are within the scope of extending sovereignty and law enforcement.
The prime minister also demanded that the land security zone on the border between Kosovo and Serbia be restored.
“Since within two years, four times Serbia has brought its army to our border, the land security zone in the width of 5 kilometers around the Kosovo border should be restored. It was removed in August 2001. This is now being abused by the regime of Aleksandar Vucic, which is bringing artillery, additional troops, Chinese anti-aircraft system within this 5-kilometer strip,” Kurti said.
Responsibility for security on the border between Kosovo and Serbia lies with the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR. Meanwhile, the rest of the border line is overseen by the Kosovo police./ REL/
