Washington DC, 27 June 2023 (TDI): US Secretary Anthony Blinken welcomes Serbia’s decision to release 3 Kosovo police officials. He urges the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia to de-escalate tensions and claims that the ‘best way forward’ is the European Union’s 3-point plan. He says that the tension should de-escalate with the help of an EU-facilitated dialogue.
EU 3 Point Plan
According to commentators, a peace proposal being pushed by major Western nations to alleviate tensions between Serbia and Kosovo fails to address mutual recognition, which effectively implies it will fail to accomplish genuine progress.
Among the stipulations of the plan floated by France, Germany, and the United States is the need that Serbia to cease advocating against Kosovo’s participation in international organizations such as the United Nations.
Under the idea, which was originally leaked in November and later revealed by Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, the two neighbors would also have to create representative offices in their respective capitals. As a compromise, the Kosovo Serb community would be allowed self-government.
Kosovo-Serbia Conflict
Serbia freed three Kosovan police officers on Monday, more than a week after detaining them in the border region, easing tensions between the neighbors and former adversaries.
Serbia claimed the officers, were apprehended on June 14 within Serbia. Prosecutors are accusing them of illegally producing, possessing, transporting, and trafficking firearms and explosive chemicals.
Kosovo claims the policemen were abducted within its borders by Serbs. It, together with the European Union and the United States, requests their release.
According to the court, a panel of the High Court in the southern Serbian city of Kraljevo “confirmed the indictment against the aforementioned defendants and issued a decision terminating the defendants’ detention.”
The verdict basically permits the Serb authorities to keep the charges while allowing the three to return to Kosovo, where they would be out of reach of the Serb court.
Kosovo, once a southern part of Serbia, proclaimed independence from Belgrade in 2008, with Western support, following a 1998-99 conflict. Kosovo is still considered part of Serbian land.
Late last month, violence erupted in four northern Kosovo towns after ethnic Albanian mayors were elected. After ethnic Serbs, who make up the bulk of the population there, boycotted the vote, turnout was only 3.5%.
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