Macron: Vucic Must Harshly Condemn Sept. 24 Events in North Kosovo

Tirana (Photo: PrintScreen YouTube)

French President Emmanuel Macron on Oct. 17 said he expected from his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic to harshly condemn the attack in the village of Banjska, North Kosovo.

“It is President Vucic’s responsibility to harshly condemn the events on Sept. 24,” Macron told a joint news conference with Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama in Tirana. He added that it was also Vucic’s responsibility to “contribute to restoring peace along the border.”

Macron further said that President Vucic and the Pristina authorities were expected to show “the spirit of responsibility” toward decreasing the tensions which had culminated over the past few weeks. He added that France had “suspended” the decision on visa liberalization for Kosovo as the word had not been kept.  

“What we are expecting from the authorities in Kosovo and Serbia is simple: holding new elections in the municipalities (in North Kosovo) where they were held in inadequate conditions. Participation of Serbs in this election and institutions, recognition of an Association of Serb-majority Municipalities by the Kosovo authorities. In this order, entirely and fully,” Macron stressed at the joint news conference.

The French president threatened to cancel visa free regime for Kosovo, which should take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. “I am saying it very clearly, we have made a gesture of trust regarding the visa regime. France has suspended this decision as the promise has not been kept,” Macron said.