Step to reduce tension in Serbia-Kosovo

It has been reported that 3 Kosovo police officers, who were arrested on 14 June for “possession of weapons” and “planning to act” in Serbia, have been released pending trial.

In the Kraljevo High Court statement, it was stated that the indictment against Rifat Zeka, Beqir Sefi and Mustafa Shemi for “possession of weapons and explosives” was accepted, and that 3 Kosovo policemen were released pending trial. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, in his post on his social media account, said: “We confirm that the 3 kidnapped police officers have been released. While we rejoice that they have been reunited with their families, this kidnapping is a serious violation of human rights and must be condemned. Serbian aggression must be held accountable,” he said.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, in a statement on social media, stated that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic informed him that 3 police officers would be released, saying: “Last week, as part of my visit to Serbia, we asked that the Kosovo policemen were released. released. We appreciate the step taken by Mr. Vucic.”

Serbian media claim that Kosovo Serbs who were detained in Kosovo after the release by the Kosovo police should also be released.

INCREASED BLOOD PRESSURE

Serbia detained 3 people, determined to be members of the Kosovo police, in the border region of the two countries on June 14, on the grounds that they were “planning an action in Serbia”; Kosovo had argued that the police were “kidnapped” by Serbia.

The Kosovo police also detained about 10 Kosovar Serbs for various reasons, and Serbia demanded that these people be released as soon as possible.

THE TENSION CONTINUES A MONTH

On May 26, Kosovar Serbs protested the election of Albanian mayors who won local elections on April 23 in the municipalities of Zveçan, Zubin Potok and Leposavic, where Serbs are concentrated in northern Kosovo.

There was a clash between the Kosovo police, who were sent to the region to protect the Albanian mayors, and the Kosovo Serbs.

The main reason for the tension between the two countries, which clash from time to time, is said to be that Serbia views Kosovo, which declared its independence unilaterally in 2008, as its own territory.

Within the framework of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process, which began in 2011 with the mediation of the European Union (EU), efforts are being made to find a common path for the two countries to get to know each other and normalize relations. (AA)