Members of European Parliament debated the situation in Kosovo following the terrorist attack of 24 September, reportedly backed by Belgrade, with lawmakers calling for urgent action against Serbia and a lifting of sanctions against Kosovo.
The debate was initiated by the Socialists & Democrats, the second largest group in the European Parliament.
“We condemn the recent aggression of an armed terrorist gang against Kosovo policemen. All facts surrounding the attack must be proven. The responsible perpetrators must face justice”, the warning of the European Social Democrats stated before the discussion.
One of the initiators of the debate, MEP Tonino Picula stated that the resolution presents a clear assessment of the European Parliament on the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and after the terrorist attack in the north of Kosovo and the killing of a policeman.
Picula said that in addition to criminal responsibility, political responsibility for the recent escalation of violence must also be determined.
He also said MEPs must make their views on the role of European mediators clear in light of the evident blockage in the implementation of the plan for the normalisation of relations.
“We condemn the recent aggression of armed terrorists against the Kosovo police officer. All the facts about this attack must be clarified, and those responsible must face justice”, said Picula.
Greens MEP, Viola von Crammon said ““Peace and democracy are fragile and under threat in the Balkans today. The build-up of tensions and troops on the Kosovo-Serbia border is alarming and we need an urgent de-escalation of the situation.”
She called for the EU to lift sanctions against Kosovo and be tough on the Serbian government.
““The EU must use its power in the region and all available tools to moderate a European solution to the current crisis, which preserves peace. Both the Commission and the Council need to change their approach towards Kosovo and Serbia in order for the EU to be an honest broker,” she said.
The resolution is expected to be approved in the second plenary session in the second half of October.
The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said on Tuesday that the preliminary information of the Kosovo authorities shows that most of the people involved in the terrorist attack in Banjska are members of the organisation, Civil Defence or the Northern Brigade, both declared terrorists in Kosovo, in June of this year.
Other involved parties include the vice-head of the political party Serbian list, Milan Radoicic, who resigned shortly after his participation was revealed, and the bodyguard of Serbian security chief Aleksander Vulin.
According to Kurti, the most important issue currently is the security of Kosovo and the punishment of those who attacked Kosovo Police.
“The punishment for the attackers means the punishment of Serbia, which supported financially, militarily, logistically, politically, publicly, officially, what happened in Banjska i Zvečani, but at the same time the extradition, the surrender of all those who are being persecuted, because they fled from the place of crime and from our country”, Kurti said as he participated in a round table of the Pristina Institute for Political Studies (PIPS).
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia detained Radoicic on Tuesday afternoon for 48 hours. This comes after he confirmed his participation in the terrorist attack and resigned from his position on the Serbian List.
(Alice Taylor | Euractiv.com)
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Tensions persist in Kosovo, Radoičić arrested
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