A recent police operation by the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo in the Serbs-populated north was meant to intimidate the Serbs and pressure Belgrade into accepting a peace agreement under which it would relinquish a part of its territory to Pristina and recognize its independence, the president of the Foreign Affairs Council of the right-wing Serbian Dveri movement told Sputnik
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th May, 2019) A recent police operation by the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo in the Serbs-populated north was meant to intimidate the Serbs and pressure Belgrade into accepting a peace agreement under which it would relinquish a part of its territory to Pristina and recognize its independence, the president of the Foreign Affairs Council of the right-wing Serbian Dveri movement told Sputnik.On Tuesday, Kosovar police held a special operation, allegedly targeting organized crime, in the region's north. Several people were injured and at least 19 people were detained as a result, including a Russian employee of the UN mission in Kosovo, Mikhail Krasnoshchekov, for resisting police. Later, he was released due to his immunity and evacuated for medical treatment to central Serbia.
"This action has been taken now because the Albanian side wants to exert pressure on the leadership of Serbia to sign a comprehensive peace agreement with Kosovo, by which Serbia would renounce its territory and recognize the independence of Kosovo. The Brussels negotiations have been brought to an end, and now only the last step remains, and that is the signing of an agreement," Dragana Trifkovic said.
The Serbian leadership, under pressure from Brussels, in 2011 entered into negotiations with the Kosovar Albanians under the EU mediation to bring the region closer to the European Union, as well as make life there easier for Serbian citizens. As of today, the dialogue has been suspended.
"From everything that we have been able to see so far, we can say with certainty that the policy of making concessions to the Albanian side has resulted in even greater violence against Serbia and especially the Serbian population in Kosovo. Peace can not be built in such a way that the separatist tendencies will be accepted. If Serbia does so, it will practically recognize the right to illegally separate Serbian territory, and free Albanians from any responsibility for violence and all the crimes they have committed so far," Trifkovic pointed out.
According to Trifkovic, if Belgrade gives in to the pressure, it will also play into the hands of the West, which will be freed of "responsibility for aggression over Serbia and the creation of a separatist entity of Kosovo."
The operation, which involved dozens of Kosovar armored vehicles and forced the local Serbs to erect barricades and clash with the police to protect their settlements, was a clear demonstration of force and a provocation, the politician added.
"The aim of this campaign, as well as the previous ones, was the intimidation and humiliation of the Serbian population. Albanian separatists believe that Kosovo's independence is unquestionable and they want to prove to the Serbs as well," she stressed.
Following the Kosovar police raids in northern Kosovo, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called an emergency meeting of the country's National Security Council and put on high alert the Armed Forces and the Interior Ministry. Serbia military vehicles and a MiG-29 fighter were sent to the Serbian-Kosovar border.
Commenting on the situation, Moscow has urged the international allies of Kosovo to exert influence on Pristina in order to prevent uncontrolled escalation of tensions in the region. According to Russia, the actions of the Kosovar police were conditioned by the long-standing Western support of the self-proclaimed republic.
Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008, after years of conflict with Belgrade. The self-proclaimed republic is recognized by over 100 UN member states. Serbia, as well as Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Spain, Greece and a number of other countries have not recognized Kosovar independence.
