The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Neil Holland, has called on Serbia to “cooperate with efforts to hold all those responsible for the attack in Zveçan and Banjskë accountable.” He also stated that Serbia must fulfill its commitment to cooperate in the investigation of the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac canal.
In the statement published on the British Government’s website regarding the report of the head of the OSCE mission in Kosovo for the past six months, Holland also urged Kosovo and Serbia to engage in the Brussels dialogue and to fulfill “their respective obligations, including the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities.”
On May 29, 2023, more than 90 members of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, were injured in a protest by the local Serbian population against Albanian mayors in the northern municipalities of the country.
They were protesting against the entry of Albanian mayors into municipal buildings in the north – North Mitrovica, Zveçan, Leposavić, and Zubin Potok, KosovaPress writes.
This happened after the Serbs there had boycotted the local elections from which Albanian mayors emerged. The calls for boycott were made by the Serbian List – the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo, supported by Belgrade.
In Kosovo, several people have been arrested for “participation in violent protests” and attacks against KFOR members.
Meanwhile, in Serbia, it is still unknown whether the case of the attack on KFOR members is being investigated.
On the other hand, on September 23, in Banjskë, Zveçan, an armed group of Serbs, led by former Serbian politician Millan Radoičić, attacked the Kosovo Police, resulting in the death of police officer Afrim Bunjaku. The terrorist Radoičić is believed to be in Serbia.
“The United Kingdom also emphasizes the importance of ensuring justice and accountability for all acts of violence. We continue to call on Serbia to fully cooperate with efforts to hold those responsible for the 2023 attacks on KFOR troops and in Banjskë accountable, and to fulfill its commitment to cooperate in the investigation of the attack on the Ibar-Lepenac canal,” said Ambassador Holland.
Another attack that Serbia carried out in Kosovo was on the Ibar-Lepenac canal in November 2024.
“We call on Kosovo and Serbia to engage constructively in the EU-facilitated Dialogue and fulfill their respective obligations, including the establishment of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities. It is vital that Kosovo and Serbia respect their commitments and do not violate the dialogue agreements. Failure to meet these obligations has negative implications for the daily lives of ordinary citizens and for broader stability in the Western Balkans,” Holland said.
Holland emphasized that the United Kingdom is a long-standing and strong supporter of Kosovo as an independent and sovereign state.
He reiterated his country’s commitment to supporting Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations. /KosovaPress
