Kurti: Serbia's strategy is creating tensions in Kosovo and dividing Bosnia

(Patria) - Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said today that Serbia reflects Russia's authoritarian style and that its strategy is creating tensions in Kosovo and seeking the division of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Beta agency reports.

As announced by the Kosovo Government, Kurti stated during an online panel discussion within the Forum for Balkan Integration 2024 that the challenges facing the region are intertwined with the broader context of global changes in various political and geopolitical aspects.

“Russia's aggression against Ukraine has revealed the dangers coming from authoritarian regimes. Serbia today in the Western Balkans reflects Russia's authoritarian style. Its strategy is creating tensions in Kosovo and seeking the division of Bosnia, using them as a means for negotiations with the West to secure concessions and avoid necessary reforms,” said the Kosovo Prime Minister.

According to him, the normalization of Serbia itself is needed, “which must come to terms with the fact that the era of territorial expansion and ethnic divisions is over.” He emphasized that Kosovo is committed to good neighborly relations and regional cooperation and continues to work towards membership in NATO and the EU as strategic goals.

He added that over the past three years, Kosovo has recorded the fastest growth of democratic indicators in the region and high economic growth, “showing that democracy and economic development go hand in hand.”

The panel also included Montenegro's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Filip Ivanović, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić, EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue and Western Balkan issues Miroslav Lajčák, Member of the European Parliament Tonino Picula, and Slovenia's Minister of Foreign Affairs Tanja Fajon.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić announced today that the formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM) in Kosovo and the calling of free and democratic elections in northern Kosovo are among Belgrade's demands for normalizing the situation and advancing the dialogue with Pristina, Beta reports.

In his address to the public, he also included the return of Serbs to Kosovo's police forces in northern Kosovo and the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from that area.

“We demand a return to everything that has been achieved and accomplished in the dialogue process,” Vučić said, stating that Belgrade believes that for any serious progress in the dialogue, it is also necessary to hold free and democratic elections in Leposavić, Zubin Potok, Zvečan, and North Mitrovica, with the participation of the OSCE and EU control.

He also demanded the formation, in accordance with the provisions of the Brussels Agreement, of the regional directorate North, where Serbs will be among the police officers. The return of Serbian judges and prosecutors to their positions and the withdrawal of special units of the Kosovo Police from the north from “illegally built bases” are also among the demands listed by the Serbian President.

He said this includes the “urgent, immediate, and final formation of the CSM,” emphasizing that this should be done so that, as he stated, they can finally talk.

“The immediate implementation of EU and US guarantees from December 8, 2022, and the immediate release of all political prisoners,” according to Vučić, is also among Belgrade's demands.

He also included the immediate enabling of uninterrupted payment transactions and postal services for Serbs in Kosovo.

According to Vučić, these demands will be conveyed in international activities within the UN and OSCE, as well as within the UN Human Rights Committee, Al Jazeera reports.