Albania Blames Serbia For Kosovo Violence

Albania’s Foreign Ministry says Belgrade is responsible for recent violent clashes between local Serbs and NATO peacekeepers in Kosovo’s volatile north.

Besar Likmeta

Tirana

KFOR soldier stands guard at Kosovo roadblock | Photo by : FONET

Albania is “following with particular concern the repeated violence [instigated] by Serbia’s parallel structures and criminal organizations in Northern Kosovo against KFOR troops close to the border crossings,” the Albanian foreign ministry said on Wednesday.

“[We] strongly back the extension of the sovereignty and rule of law from the government of the Republic of Kosovo over all its territory with the support of NATO and EULEX [the EU rule of law mission],” the statement added.

Northern Kosovo, which borders Serbia, has long been prone to bursts of violence. Its population, which is almost entirely Serbian, does not recognise Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence or the ethnic Albanian-led government in Pristina.

While officially part of Kosovo, it is under the de facto control of so-called parallel institutions funded by Serbia.

These parallel institutions include decision-making bodies such as town councils and mayors.

From its declaration of independence in 2008 until the middle of July this year, northern Kosovo's two border points had been manned only by the international rule-of-law mission, EULEX. However, on 25 July the Kosovo government deployed a number of its special police to these two checkpoints to enforce a recent trade ban on goods entering the country from Serbia.

The presence of Kosovo police officers in northern Kosovo caused friction and a short-term burst of violence erupted. One police officer was killed, one checkpoint was burned down and a significant diplomatic effort ensued with more peacekeeping troops being deployed to the area to restore peace.

“The violence against KFOR troops, the attack on three Albanians in Mitrovica, destructive declarations and the obstruction of the technical dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia in Brussels are a not a way forward for the European Integration,” Albania’s Foreign Ministry said.

“The dismantlement of the parallel structures and criminal organizations that produce instability and insecurity in this part of the Balkans are a duty and responsibility of Serbia on its road to the EU,” it concluded.