Concerned about security, North Macedonia condemns the armed attack in the north of Kosovo

The state and political leaders of North Macedonia have condemned the armed attack in north Kosovo perpetrated by armed criminal groups in the early hours of Sunday, which resulted in the death of a member of the Kosovo Police Force, reports The Geopost.

“I strongly condemn today’s events and express my full support to KFOR for all future activities aimed at ensuring peace and stability in Kosovo and the region,” Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said, noting that institutions in Skopje are in constant communication and coordination with allies and strategic partners.

On the security situation in North Macedonia, he said that “citizens can be calm – it is stable, with no signs of possible unrest.”

“All institutions responsible for security are closely monitoring the situation,” he said. “Moreover, according to the information exchanged between the intelligence services of the country, as well as the information we have received from the services of our allies in the NATO alliance, there are no indications of security violations in North Macedonia,” Kovacevski said.

He called for de-escalation of events in Kosovo and continuation of dialogue and resolution of all outstanding issues in a peaceful and democratic manner.

“Acceleration of Euro-Atlantic integration in the Western Balkans is crucial. This is the only way to ensure progress and stability in the region and reduce the influence of destabilizing third parties.” “The region must move forward, its citizens deserve prosperity, a better future and a better standard of living,” Kovacevski said.

Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, who is also the head of the OSCE mission, has strongly condemned the killing of the police officer on duty in the north of the Republic of Kosovo.

“My condolences go to the family and friends of the murdered officer and I wish the injured a speedy recovery.” This act of violence must be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. Kosovo’s stability and security will not be violated by acts of violence. “The security of citizens comes first,” Osmani wrote on his Facebook profile.

Defense Minister Slavjanka Petrovska also strongly condemned the incident that occurred in Kosovo today and “all those who contributed to it.” “Modern political leaders are expected to bring peace and prosperity, not division and conflict.” Full support for KFOR and all its future activities to ensure peace and stability in the region,” Petrovska said.

Reactions also came from the political spectrum of North Macedonia. The leader of the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), Ali Ahmeti, the largest Albanian ruling party, assessed, “The murderous attack on the state of Kosovo and the country’s police is an attack on the peace, stability and security of the entire region.”

“I strongly condemn the attack on the Kosovo police and the killing of the officer and the wounding of others this morning in north Kosovo,” he said. “This serious provocation is intended with a predetermined agenda and therefore must be handled calmly and wisely, as the consequences can be regional for peace and stability,” Ahmeti said.

These developments, he stressed, “are unacceptable and coordination and cooperation with the international community that guarantees the peace and independence of Kosovo is necessary and urgent.”

“Immediate action is needed to extinguish the murderous and evil fire that aims to expand and incorporate the country and the region,” he said. “I extend my sincere condolences to the victim’s family and a speedy recovery to the injured,” Ahmeti said.

Bilall Kasami, leader of the opposition BESA party, said the attack in north Kosovo was “terrorist and an attack on peace in the Balkans.” “The attack in Zvecan in Kosovo proves that Serbia does not abandon terrorism, massacres and its invasive disease, which Vučić inherited from Milosevic and implements in the same way as his predecessor through criminals financed and supported by the Serbian state itself.” , Kasami writes on his Facebook profile.

He calls on the international factor to take urgent action and put pressure on the Serbian president to respect and implement all agreements for the recognition of Kosovo. Likewise, Kasami demands that the EU and the U.S. support Kosovo in all its efforts to protect peace and stability, not only on the territory of Kosovo, but “also in the entire Balkans.” “This morning’s attack proves that Serbia wants a war in Kosovo and the Balkans while this begins with the Albanians,” Kasami stressed.

He said that as chairman of the BESA movement, he fully supports Kosovo and Prime Minister Albin Kurti “for any kind of support.”

Meanwhile, seven citizens of Macedonia, including a child, are in a hotel near the monastery where an armed attack was committed against Kosovo police forces, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia announced.

It is known that the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani had several times during the day direct communication with his Kosovar colleague Donika Gervalla-Schwartz, while the Kosovar police are currently securing the hotel where the Macedonian citizens are staying. from where they are expected to be escorted home.

“Representatives of the Embassy will remain in continuous and direct communication with our citizens and the Kosovo police until the full completion of their transfer,” the Macedonian Foreign Ministry statement said./The Geopost/