Borrell: Pristina Has To Suspend Police Operations in North Kosovo, Violent Protesters Have To Stand Down

Josep Borrell (BETAPHOTO/European Council)

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said in Brussels on May 30 that Pristina had to suspend its special forces’ operations focusing on the municipal buildings in North Kosovo, while the violent protesters had to stand down, adding that the EU would continue to talk with top officials of Serbia and Kosovo on de-escalation and ending violence immediately and unconditionally.

Borrell condemned the violence, stressing that the EU stood firmly behind NATO’s mission KFOR. He added that the EU member states “have been discussing possible measures to be taken if the Parties continue to resist proposed steps towards de-escalation.”

“The EU expects the Parties to act responsibly and engage immediately in the EU-facilitated Dialogue to find a sustainable solution to the situation in the north of Kosovo that guarantees safety and security for all citizens and paves the way for the implementation of the new Agreement on Path to Normalization,” Borrell said in a statement. 

Borrell also said that he had contacts with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic overnight and again with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the morning on May 30. He stressed that “we have too much violence in Europe already today – we cannot afford another conflict.” “I hope that my voice will be endorsed and that people will act according to the request,” Borrell said.