Kosovo’s Prime Minister in a caretaker role, Albin Kurti, has stated that the continuation of the Kosovo–Serbia dialogue is impossible unless Serbia hands over Milan Radoičić to Kosovo’s security authorities.
In an interview with KosovaPress, Kurti said that in a future mandate he will again insist on the full implementation and formal signing of the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Implementation Annex, both reached in 2023.
Kurti stressed that while Kosovo supports the agreements, Serbia has refused to sign them, despite the European Union accepting both documents in its role as mediator.
“We are in favor of full implementation of these agreements, but in order to have legal guarantees and clearly expressed goodwill, they must be signed. Serbia has refused this,” Kurti said.
He added that for the dialogue to move forward, Serbia must first hand over Milan Radoičić, whom Kurti described as “the main terrorist” responsible for the killing of Kosovo police officer Afrim Bunjaku during the Banjska attack.
Kurti noted that Kosovo’s Special Prosecution has issued a 160-page indictment against Radoičić and 44 paramilitaries, accusing them of attempting to trigger a large-scale conflict in Banjska, with the aim of provoking Serbian intervention and the annexation of northern Kosovo.
“They failed, just as they failed in their attempt to sabotage the Ibar–Lepenc canal, for which there is also an indictment. They will fail every time,” Kurti said, adding that progress is impossible while Radoičić remains protected and close to Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić.
Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic ambitions
Speaking about Kosovo’s international aspirations, Kurti said the country’s primary goal is membership in the Council of Europe, followed by NATO, and later the European Union.
He emphasized that Kosovo has fulfilled all its obligations, noting that 82% support in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe demonstrates Kosovo’s readiness, despite resistance from some skeptical member states.
Kurti concluded that Kosovo is currently the only country without EU candidate status, despite applying three years ago, and said securing a clear signal from the European Commission remains a top priority.
