The U.S. Ambassador reacted to the most recent tensions in Kosovo northern municipalities, where dozens of Serb citizens sought to prevent newly-elected mayors from entering their Kosovo municipal offices.

“The United States condemns the ongoing action by Kosovan authorities to access municipal buildings in the north of Kosovo.  Today’s violent measures should be immediately halted,” Ambassador Hovenier stated.

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Dozens of Serbs gathered in the courtyards of three municipality buildings in the north of Kosovo to prevent the new mayors from entering the municipal facilities.

Serbs clashed with police escorting the new mayors into their municipal offices.

In addition to local citizens, heavy machinery, trucks and other vehicles were seen near the municipality buildings, while alarm sirens were used by criminal structures to call on people to gather.

Police confirmed that protestors in Zveçan used violence, hurling rocks and other objects, as well as flares at police officers.

Police said in a press release that relevant police unites were forced to act in self defence and use legitimate means, including tear gas, to disperse the crowd and allow mayors to access their offices.

The mayors of the municipalities Leposavic, Zubin Potok, and Zveçan were sworn in a day ago after having been elected in the April 23 local elections, while the ceremonies were held in facilities, mainly schools and local offices.

Local elections in the Serb-dominated northern municipalities were boycotted by Kosovo’s biggest Serbian party Srpska lista (Serb List), supported by official Belgrade.

The previous mayors resigned to express dissatisfaction with the Kosovo Government’s decision to re-register illegal Serbian cars under the Republic of Kosovo.

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The statement issued by the State Department spokesperson follow the violent incidents in Kosovo north, where a Kosovo police officer was injured after armed men fired guns against a police car in the village of Serbovc, Zvecan commune on Thursday.

Tensions simmered in northern Kosovo as the date for the snap elections in four communes is nearing. During the week, groups of Serbian citizens blocked the offices of the municipal election commissions, while the police reported shootings and explosions, but no casualties.

“The use of explosives is never an acceptable way of protest and it threatens the lives of innocent people,” the State Department spokesperson told VOA, adding that “the United States continues to call on Kosovo and Serbia to exercise restraint and avoid any action or statement that would further escalate tensions.”

The increasing tensions in Kosovo north may cause the delay of the snap elections set to be held on December 18 after Serb representatives withdrew from all central and local institutions in Kosovo amid disputes over the use of licence plates issued by Serbia. The election process is being boycotted by the Serb List, Kosovo’s main Serbian political party that enjoys Belgrade’s support and used to rule all the Serb-dominated communes in the country’s north.

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PM Kurti stated that these attacks in northern Kosovo were terrorist and according to him were intended to be deadly attacks.

The prime minister made these remarks during the homage to the statue of Zahir Pajaziti in Pristina.

Speaking about the Serbian illegal structures and organized crime in the north, Kurti said that Kosovo state and government will show no tolerance.

In his reaction to statements of Serbian President Vucic regarding the arrival of a plane of the British Air Force in Pristina, Kurti said that statements coming from Belgrade are not facts.

“The statements that come from Belgrade can never be considered facts, this is what our past and our present teach us. Of course, we have greatly increased the budget for the defense of Kosovo. The budget has increased by 52 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, but for all further steps we take you should get information only from the Ministry of Defense, from the Kosovo Security Force and never from Belgrade.

Kurti also spoke about the license plate agreement, which said that April 21 is the deadline when it expires and added that the principle of reciprocity is at the core of every potential future solution./p.s./

“The U.S. Embassy is deeply concerned by reports of gun shots fired and rocks thrown at Kosovan law enforcement officials near Zubin Potok. These attacks occurred as the sovereign authorities responsible for maintaining peace and security were carrying out their official duties. We strongly condemn this deplorable, unjustifiable violence.  Law enforcement officials are responsible for investigating the situation.  We caution against speculation that would increase tensions and will condemn any efforts to impede this essential work,” U.S. Ambassador said in a statement.

Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, announced at a press conference earlier today that there have been four attacks on police officers in the last three days near the border with Serbia. According to Svecla the latest incident took place on Friday morning when Kosovo police patrols were attacked with hand grenades and an AK-4.

Interior Minister and Kosovo Police director Samedin Mehmeti  condemned the attacks as acts of terrorism.

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