EU Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhei condemned the attack on Kosovo police in the predominantly ethnic Serb village of Banska in Northern Kosovo, which left one police officer dead and two others wounded by gunfire from a heavily armed criminal gang, the “Albanian Post” reported.
Shocking details of those who shot a policeman in Kosovo
“I strongly condemn the attack on the Kosovo police in the northern part of Kosovo. The violence must stop immediately. I offer my deepest condolences to the family of the policeman who died this morning and I wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” the Hungarian commissioner wrote on his official profile in the X platform.
He also called for a “full investigation” into the case, while adding that European institutions support the work of the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) and the NATO peacekeeping mission (KFOR).
I strongly condemn the attack against #Kosovo Police in N🇽🇰. Violence has to be ceased immediately✋
I send my deepest condolences to family of 🇽🇰Policeman died this a.m. & wish a fast recovery to injured. We support the work of EULEX&KFOR on ground as we call for full investig. https://t.co/shAl4Mvd53
— Oliver Varhelyi (@OliverVarhelyi) September 24, 2023
The EU’s special envoy for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, also condemned the attack by armed gangs in the village of Banska in the northern part of Kosovo, “Albanian Post” reported.
The Slovakian diplomat, through a post on his platform X profile, called on Kosovo and Serbia to immediately return to dialogue to normalize relations with the mediation of the EU, adding that the perpetrators should be brought to justice.
“I strongly condemn the horrific attack on the Kosovo police last night. Violence in any form is absolutely unacceptable. My heart goes out to the victims, their families and colleagues. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. Everyone must return to dialogue immediately.” Lajcak wrote.
I strongly condemn the horrific attack against Kosovo police last night. Violence of any form is absolutely unacceptable. My heart goes out to the victims, their families and colleagues. The perpetrators must be brought to justice. Everyone needs to return to dialogue immediately https://t.co/xeIoBRVHrM
— Miroslav Lajčák (@MiroslavLajcak) September 24, 2023
The attack by armed gangs in the village of Banska in the north of Kosovo condemned and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell condemned
“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the terrible attack by an armed gang against Kosovo policemen in Banska in the north of Kosovo, in which one policeman died and two were injured. All the facts surrounding the attack must be proven. The perpetrators responsible must be brought to justice justice,” he wrote in H.
The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the hideous attack against Kosovo Police officers in Banjska/Banjskë in the north of Kosovo.
The responsible perpetrators must face justice. https://t.co/AU79eVg5Ix
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) September 24, 2023
Albania’s Prime Minister Edi Rama also reacted to the serious event in Kosovo through a post on the X social network.
For Rama, the loss is the biggest wake-up call yet about the continued risk of the protracted crisis escalating into armed conflict.
He demanded the convening of an emergency peace conference under the supervision and guarantee of the EU and the US and at the same time undertaking all emergency measures together with KFOR. According to him, this is necessary to prevent further aggravation of the situation that threatens the entire region.
Tension in Kosovo: A policeman was killed in a shooting
Rama emphasizes that the Euro-Atlantic community must gather all its impressive strength and irreversibly place Kosovo and Serbia on the table of the normalization dialogue.
“The criminals who took the life of an innocent man serving in the state uniform of the law enforcement forces of the Republic of Kosovo must be brought to justice,” Rama wrote.
The tragedy of the loss of life of the Kosovo Police officer is the biggest alarm bell to date about the ongoing risk of the protracted crisis escalating into an armed conflict. The criminals who took the life of an innocent man, who served under…
— Edi Rama (@ediramaal) September 24, 2023
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Buyar Osmani, also strongly condemned the killing of the Kosovo policeman in Northern Kosovo.
“My heart goes out to his family and colleagues. I fully support justice by bringing the perpetrators of this heinous act to justice,” Osmani wrote in H.
According to Osmani, acts of violence will not harm the stability of Kosovo.
“Citizens’ safety comes first,” the diploma also said.
I strongly condemn the killing of a police officer in north of R.Kosovo. My heart goes out to his family & colleagues. Full support for justice bringing perpetrators of a this heinous act to justice. Acts of violence won’t undermine Kosovo’s stability. Citizens’ safety first.
— Bujar Osmani (@Bujar_O) September 24, 2023
Former Montenegrin Foreign Minister Miodrag Vlahovic also commented on the attack on Kosovo law enforcement officers, in which one policeman was killed and another of his colleagues was injured.
“Can’t the US Embassy in Serbia and the EU see that the violence and killings in northern Kosovo orchestrated by Aleksandar Vucic-led Serbia, its security services and criminal circles clearly demonstrate the failure of decades of reconciliation policies and show that it is deeply wrong and counterproductive,” Vlahovic wrote on his profile on the X social network.
Do @usambserbia & @StateEUR see that violence & killings in the north of Kosovo, organized & orchestrated by @avucic Serbia, their services & criminal circles, clearly expose the failure of decade-long appeasement policy & show that it was profoundly wrong & counterproductive?
— Miodrag Vlahovic🇲🇪 (@Mico_Vlahovic) September 24, 2023
The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Kramon, called for an investigation to understand the possible involvement of Serbian structures in the attack on the Kosovo police in the north of the country.
“The potential involvement of Serbian structures must be investigated, while it is vital to take all necessary measures to maintain peace and order. I ask all actors to convince the armed individuals in Banski Monastery to surrender immediately,” she wrote on the platform “X “.
“I strongly condemn the violent attack on the Kosovo police and express full solidarity with the people of Kosovo. The organized attack on the law enforcement agencies is absolutely unacceptable and the attackers must be brought to justice. An immediate de-escalation is needed, including an increase in the number of KFOR forces in North Kosovo,” said the MEP.
I condemn in the strongest possible terms the violent attack on the Kosovo Police and express my full solidarity with the people of Kosovo.
The orchestrated attack on the legitimate police force is absolutely unacceptable whose perpetrators must be brought to justice. 1/
— Viola von Cramon 🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@ViolavonCramon) September 24, 2023
She wrote the following: “I welcome the initiative taken by the government of Kosovo, hoping that everyone will maintain peace in every part of the country,” and expressed “condolences on behalf of the European Parliament to the family of the police officer killed in the line of duty , and sincerely hope for the speediest recovery of the wounded”
surrender without further delay.
I welcome in that respect the Kosovo government’s caution and de-escalatory steps today, hoping that everyone remains calms in every part of Kosovo. 4/
— Viola von Cramon 🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@ViolavonCramon) September 24, 2023
Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and European Affairs also condemned today’s attack in northern Kosovo.
“We strongly condemn the violent attack on the Kosovo police early in the morning. We offer our most sincere condolences to the family of the policeman killed in the line of duty and speedy recovery to the wounded sergeant. The perpetrators must be urgently brought to justice,” said a statement from the Croatian diplomacy, quoted by the “Albanian Post”.
Today, President Rumen Radev held a telephone conversation with the President of the Republic of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu. The Bulgarian head of state expressed his condolences for the victims of the shootout in Northern Kosovo and his concern over the escalation of tension in the country.
The two presidents united around the opinion that responsibility is needed from all sides for de-escalation and risk reduction, which is in the interest of both the citizens of Kosovo and the international NATO peacekeeping mission KFOR, in which Bulgarian military personnel also participate.
The opposition Serbian party “Green-Left Front” also condemned the invasion of the Ban monastery by armed and masked persons, as well as all provocations and violence, regardless of which country it comes from, and calls for restraint on the part of the Kosovo police and the Kosovo authorities, as well as the citizens of the northern part of Kosovo, in order for the crisis to be resolved with as few victims as possible, “Danas” reported.
“Peace has no alternative,” says the party, which is demanding a thorough and credible investigation into all the circumstances that led to the death of a member of the Kosovo police and the wounding of his colleague.
“We express our condolences to the family of the injured member of the Kosovo Police Force,” the Green-Left Front stated and called for a return to negotiations that would have specific frameworks and topics and contribute to calming tensions and making life easier in the northern part of Kosovo.
“Attacks against the Kosovo police, the burning of houses of Serbs who have returned to Kosovo, or random arrests of Serbs will not contribute to a peaceful life and solving the problems of ordinary people. Life with barricades, tension, blockade of trade, cancellation of freedom of movement, police repression, lack of law and order, does not represent a life worthy of people in the heart of Europe in the 21st century,” the statement said.
“We ask the authorities in Belgrade and Pristina to urgently reach an agreement on the sequence of steps in the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement in order to normalize life,” the opposition party said.
Source bgnes
