The United States has excluded Kosovo from a US-led NATO military exercise. Defender 23, which will be held in Europe from April to June with the participation of about twenty allied countries. This was announced by the US ambassador in Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier. “For Kosovo, this exercise is over,” he told local media after Prime Minister Albin Kurti refused to withdraw Kosovar Albanian mayors from the north of the country, a Serb-majority area. This is the first US sanction against the Kosovar government since ethnic tensions flared up again.
Prime Minister of Kosovo ‘surprised by US overreaction’ – Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurtin, in an interview with Politico.eu, described as surprising the United States’ reaction against Kosovo after the recent violent clashes that left members of the NATO-KFOR contingent injured on the spot. “We have a slight difference in approach. Thinking about sanctions against Kosovo seems disproportionate and unfair,” he said. “I was surprised,” he said, calling the US an “overreaction.” When asked about the issue, Kurti replied that the current situation “could” degenerate into a larger conflict. But it “depends” on Belgrade, he added.
Two of the Italian KFOR soldiers involved in the clashes in Zvecan, Kosovo, will return to Italy in the next few days after receiving first aid. Your conditions improve. This was announced by the Ministry of Defense. The Italian Army units, belonging to the 9th Alpini Regiment, had intervened in competition with the other KFOR (Kosovo Force) forces and the Kosovo Police to restore order and protect public infrastructure in Zvecan in northern Kosovo .
In Kosovo, “the current situation is dangerous and unsustainable.”. “We urgently need a de-escalation and a solution through dialogue to get back to implementing the agreement reached,” EU High Representative Josep Borrell wrote in a tweet after the meeting in Bratislava with Kosovar First Minister Albin Kurti “for discussion.” Tensions in northern Kosovo”
Kurti, I’ll consider snap elections in the north when the fighting ends – Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said he is ready to consider early elections in northern Kosovo if violence ends. “If it had been a peaceful protest, I would have understood it, but not some crazy demonstration with the letter Z (pro-Russian symbol, ed.) where soldiers and police officers shot, threw grenades and ‘kill, kill ‘ to be called. “Let’s not give up our democratic republic to this fascist crowd. If they protest peacefully and call for early elections, they have a prime minister who will be happy to listen to them and maybe agree with them,” Kurti said in Bratislava, as quoted by the Guardian.
Crosetto hears Serbian minister ‘reducing tension’ – “Italy has been involved in this region, which is strategic for the whole of Europe, for years and will continue to work for a détente in Kosovo. The international community demands that the parties commit to a speedy return to normality.” Diplomacy and dialogue once again play a prominent role. So said Defense Minister Guido Crosetto during the long and intense phone call he had this afternoon with Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of the Republic of Serbia Miloš Vučević. The Serbian minister – explains the defense in a statement – shared the need to find a sustainable solution as soon as possible and expressed his solidarity with the KFOR personnel injured in the incidents in Zvecan in recent days. Crosetto had already addressed the call to resolve disagreements and bring the parties back to peaceful dialogue, stressing the importance of “struggling to restore calm and resume the path of dialogue and diplomacy.” .
“NATO and our military remain a guarantee of stability and prevent the situation from deteriorating,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani regarding the situation in Kosovo, a situation on which – as the minister himself said – “the point will be made” at the NATO summit in Oslo today and tomorrow. On the sidelines of an initiative in the Farnesina on the goal of sustainable development, the minister also said that he had spoken to Vucic and Kurti several times in the past few days. “At the moment – he added – there is no responsibility of Serbia. I have asked the Kosovar Prime Minister to suspend the inauguration of the mayors representing the Albanian-speaking population in this part of Kosovo, precisely to avoid tension. Great caution and great moderation.” “These are two EU accession candidates. We have to make sure that the path is positive. But in this way there is a risk that participation in the EU will also be alienated in Kosovo.” Tajani emphasized that “EU membership requires certain choices. Therefore, I invite you to rest and peace. But no more unilateral initiatives that can cause incidents and complicate the situation in the Balkans.” The Foreign Minister reiterated: “Italy is strongly committed. It is part of the quintet working for peace and stability. Yesterday our Ambassador in Belgrade also attended the meeting with President Vucic. I repeat, I am not responsible for Serbia.” .
Why is there fighting in Kosovo?
“The attack on our military is unacceptable,” said Vice President and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani Referring to the attack in Kosovo in the past few days. The minister also stressed that the injured “are all fine, including those who have suffered more complicated injuries. You are not in any danger.” In particular, one soldier is “stationed in the Skopje hospital, the other soldier in Pristina; the others are all stationary in the infirmary of the Italian contingent in Pristina”. “I,” continued Tajani, “am in constant contact with the ambassador, I spoke to General Figliuolo who was present and to Minister Crosetto.” On the Italian side, “there is a political strategy to promote a political agreement between the parties and implement what has been achieved with European mediation”.
Russia supports Serbia ‘unconditionally’ “She is following the development of the situation very closely” in Kosovo and is “concerned”. This was stated by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, quoted by RIA Novosti. “All legitimate interests of Kosovo Serbs must be respected and there must be no place for provocative actions that violate their rights,” Peskov added.
“I welcome NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg’s decision to send 700 more troops to Kosovo. We will also continue our close coordination and cooperation with the NATO KFOR mission in Kosovo within the framework of our EULEX mission. Calm must now be restored,” EU High Representative Josep Borrell wrote in a tweet following the Transatlantic Alliance’s decision to send reinforcements following violent clashes between Serb protesters and Kosovan police.
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