Kurti calls for sanctions against Serbia, says Vučić is persecuting Serbs integrated into Kosovo institutions
Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti has said that Kosovo's neighbor, Serbia, is continuing to persecute Serbian citizens in the north who are not obeying Vucic's orders. Kurti has asked the EU and NATO to sanction Serbia because it has hegemonic ideas and poses a threat to the Balkans. The acting head of government has also called on Serbs in the north to cooperate with the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.
Following the kidnapping and injury of a Serbian citizen with Kosovar citizenship, which is suspected to have occurred by Serbian gendarmerie within the Kosovo border, in Leposaviq, the acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has spoken.
In a statement, the acting head of government says that Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has begun the persecution of Serbs integrated into Kosovo institutions.
"Our northern neighbor, besides being an aggressor, is also aggressive. It constantly makes attacks, threats and provocations. Finally, it is clear that Serbia has surrendered to the Republic of Kosovo, and to the Albanians. It now targets Serbs who have integrated into Kosovo, who work for the good of the Serbian community, and who do not have the party cards of the President of Serbia, Vucic there," he declared.
According to him, Serbia is headed towards the Kremlin, not Europe as Kosovo is aligned.
"Kosovo and Serbia are two neighboring states. Kosovo is a democratic state, with peace and security, with legality and public order, while Serbia is an autocratic, hostile state oriented towards the northeast, i.e. towards the Kremlin, and also with expansionist and hegemonic aspirations in the Balkans. We are oriented towards the West, towards the European Union and NATO," Kurti declared.
From the northern square of Mitrovica, Kurti demanded that Serbia be sanctioned by the EU and NATO, since, according to him, it poses a threat to the Balkan countries.
"Therefore, it is necessary for international factors, the international community in general, and especially the European Union and NATO, to pressure Belgrade to place Serbia under sanctions because it is fighting the Serbs in Kosovo who want to live in peace and freedom, for whom we, as the government of the Republic, are the guarantors, since I am not only the prime minister of Albanians, but also of others, including Serbs who are about 4% of the population in Kosovo."
Kurti also has a call for Serbs in the four northern municipalities.
"Constitutionality, legality, peace and security, public order will be in every corner of our Republic, all the time for everyone, without distinction for anyone's anger but for the public and civic good, therefore the Kosovo bodies, both in terms of security and in terms of social aspects, will be close to all citizens, without discriminating or favoring anyone. So we invite the Serbs in northern Mitrovica to cooperate with the Kosovo state bodies because they also contribute with taxes there, and at the same time it has been proven that not only the Kosovo Police but also other state officials are professionals who serve with dedication and without distinction," Kurti said to Tëvë1.
The case of the kidnapping of Milan Vukasinović on November 1 in Leposavić is being investigated by law enforcement agencies in Kosovo.
