Serbs set up blockades in the north – two border points with Serbia are closed

In the north of Kosovo, the barricades of the Serbs are back, after the arrest by the Kosovar authorities of a former Serbian policeman. Vucic called the arrest of the former Serbian policeman a reckless action by the official Pristina.

The Kosovo police announced that they have closed the two border points in the north of Kosovo, Jarinje and Brnjak, which connect Kosovo and Serbia. This decision was taken by the police after the local Serbs on Saturday afternoon blocked some roads in the north of Kosovo, as a sign of revolt after the arrest by the Kosovar authorities of a former Serbian policeman. The latter is accused of having organized last week’s attack on the CEC offices in the north. The Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said that the former Serbian policeman organized the “terrorist attack” on the offices of the Central Election Commission in the north of Kosovo.

“Dejan Pantic is accused of committing terrorist acts and attacking the constitutional order”, said Svecla. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, for his part, described the arrest of former policeman Dejan Pantic by the Kosovo Police as a reckless act of Kosovar authorities.

“Our services have investigated the whole case very seriously. I talked with international partners and emphasized the recklessness of those who carried out such an act and once again violated the peace”, said Vucic during a media conference in Belgrade.

Since the beginning of December, incidents have increased in the north of Kosovo, since the time when the Kosovo authorities were making preparations for holding local elections, after the mass resignation of Serbian representatives from institutions and municipalities. Initially, President Vjosa Osmani decided that on December 18, local elections will be held in the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo. But after international pressure that in such tense circumstances there are no conditions for holding elections in the north, the president decided to postpone these elections. She set the date of April 21, 2023 for holding local elections for mayors of municipalities in the north of Kosovo.

“In order to ensure the greatest participation of citizens in these elections, observation by local and international institutions, security for all citizens without distinction, as well as sufficient time for security institutions to make efforts and take actions additional for order and law in the north of the country, I estimate that the postponement is necessary”, said President Vjosa Osmani, after a meeting she held with the political parties, where it was decided to postpone the elections.

Postponement of elections

The European Union and QUINT welcomed the decision to postpone the elections in the north. “This constructive decision advances efforts to promote a more secure situation in the north, which is key to EU-mediated dialogue as the only way to reach a comprehensive agreement on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.” says the announcement of QUINT, which includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Italy.

Even the European Union and the OSCE mission said that they “welcome the decision of President Osmani and the leaders of the political parties to postpone the holding of elections for mayors and those for municipal assemblies in the north of Kosovo”. use this opportunity to reduce tensions and focus on dialogue”, wrote the EU office in Kosovo./DW/