A statement with respect to the arrest or kidnapping of three members of the Kosovo Police

Prishtina, June 15, 2023: The Kosovar Centre for Security Studies (KCSS), as the leading security think-tank in Kosovo, expresses deep concern regarding the recent developments in the northern part of Kosovo involving the abduction of three members of the Border Police. The available evidence suggests that abduction occurred within the territory of Kosovo, it was pre-planned and it was executed by the special units of both Serbian Armed Forces and Gendarmerie. The actions taken by the Serbian government in abducting Kosovo Police members represent a deliberate, planned, and aggressive escalation of tensions in the northern part of Kosovo. KCSS firmly condemns these acts to the detriment of peace and stability.

*Serbian below

KCSS call on the international community, particularly NATO/KFOR and the EU, to expedite the repatriation of the police officers back to Kosovo. Additionally, concrete measures must be implemented to deescalate the situation in the northern region of Kosovo, as the potential for conflict continues to grow each day.

It is important to acknowledge that the citizens in the north of Kosovo are the ones who suffer the most from the current situation. The legitimate concerns voiced by citizens residing in the northern part of Kosovo regarding the current situation deserve to be attentively heard.

KCSS urges the the Government of the Republic of Kosovo to take a more proactive dialogue related role and jointly with international partners, including the EU and the United States, make concrete moves towards de-escalation. However, the same demands goes also towards Serbian authorities in Belgrade who had the leading role in escalation of the situation in the northern part of Kosovo. Both parties should be returned to the to the EU-facilitated dialogue immediately. The recent developments in the northern region of Kosovo highlight the unsustainability of the status quo and emphasize the urgent need for a viable solution. The implementation of the Agreement on the Path to Normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, agreed upon by leaders of both countries in February of this year, is the way forward. The EU should promptly deliver a sequenced action plan for the agreement's implementation without delay.

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Izjava u vezi sa hapšenjem ili kidnapovanjem tri pripadnika Kosovske policije

Priština, 15. Jun 2023: Kosovski Centar za Bezbednosne Studije (KCBS), kao vodeći bezbednosni think-tank na Kosovu, izražava duboku zabrinutost zbog nedavnih događaja u severnom delu Kosova koji uključuju otmicu tri pripadnika granične policije . Dostupni dokazi sugerišu da se otmica dogodila na teritoriji Kosova, da je bila unapred planirana i da su je izvršile specijalne jedinice Vojske Srbije i Žandarmerije.

Radnje koje je preduzela Vlada Srbije prilikom otmice pripadnika Kosovske policije predstavljaju smišljenu, plansku i agresivnu eskalaciju tenzija u severnom delu Kosova. KCBS oštro osuđuje ova dela na štetu mira i stabilnosti.

KCBS poziva međunarodnu zajednicu, posebno NATO/KFOR i EU, da ubrzaju repatrijaciju policajaca nazad na Kosovo. Pored toga, moraju se primeniti konkretne mere za deskalaciju situacije u severnom regionu Kosova, pošto potencijal za sukob nastavlja da raste svakim danom.

Važno je priznati da su građani na severu Kosova ti koji najviše pate od sadašnje situacije. Legitimna zabrinutost koju su izrazili građani severnog dela Kosova u vezi sa trenutnom situacijom zaslužuju da se pažljivo saslušaju.

KCBS apeluje na Vladu Republike Kosova da preuzme proaktivniju ulogu u vezi sa dijalogom i zajedno sa međunarodnim partnerima, uključujući EU i Sjedinjene Države, preduzme konkretne korake ka deeskalaciji. Međutim, isti zahtevi se odnose i na srpske vlasti u Beogradu koje su imale vodeću ulogu u eskalaciji situacije na severu Kosova. Obe strane treba odmah da se vrate u dijalog koji vodi EU. Nedavni događaji u severnom regionu Kosova naglašavaju neodrživost statusa kvo i naglašavaju hitnu potrebu za održivim rešenjem. Implementacija Sporazuma o putu normalizacije odnosa između Kosova i Srbije, koji su lideri obe zemlje dogovorili u Februaru ove godine, je put napred. EU treba odmah da dostavi akcioni plan za implementaciju sporazuma bez odlaganja.