Borrell: De-escalation is necessary; urgent investigation into the abuse of those arrested

The High EU Representative for Foreign and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, pointed out tonight, after separate meetings with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, and the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, that it was necessary to work on de-escalating the situation, which meant implementing the EU plan, and that he asked the Prime Minister of Kosovo to urgently start the investigation regarding the abuse of the arrested.

Borrell, at the press conference, pointed out that for four weeks we had witnessed the unnecessary worsening of the situation with protests and violent confrontations.

He recalled that members of KFOR, journalists, members of the police, and civilians had been injured.

"We hear about incidents daily. This is unacceptable and must not continue. That's why I asked President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti to come to Brussels today for a crisis meeting. We are in crisis mode again," Borrell stated.

He said that the members of the EU and the US had been clear in their appeal for de-escalation and call for decisive steps to be taken.

"Unfortunately, we are witnessing the exact opposite," he said.

He reported that he had spent more than four hours together with the EU Envoy for Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak, first with Kurti and then with Vucic, in separate meetings.

"We didn't have a joint meeting to try to find a solution," he underlined.

Borrell said that he had presented clear expectations of the international community to the parties.

"To Kosovo that it must urgently suspend police operations in the north around municipal buildings, that the mayors temporarily perform their duties from alternative locations, and Serbia to ensure that the protests will stop simultaneously with the withdrawal of the police. We indicated to both sides that they should announce early elections, as soon as possible, in all four municipalities, with the unconditional participation of the Kosovo Serbs. That is the core of the problem and the solution - holding new elections as soon as possible with "full" participation," he explained.

Afterward, he added, when the situation on the ground normalized, work on normalizing relations had to continue through dialogue with the mediation of the EU.

"A few months ago, we reached a significant agreement on the road to normalization, and it seemed as if we were on the right track. We have to return to the implementation of the agreements reached, and that means the start, without delay or preconditions, of negotiations on the draft Statute of the CSM," he said.

Borrell also pointed out that he had been clear that there could be no impunity for those who were guilty of violence, but that should be dealt with by the judiciary, professionally and impartially.

"Today's meeting was not focused on what, but on when and how. How to de-escalate the situation on the ground, with concrete steps, how to organize new elections, and how to ensure a return to dialogue and the implementation of all obligations from the dialogue, especially the roadmap for implementation. After the meetings, I can say that the leader understood the seriousness of the situation, but they obviously have different interpretations and approaches to the causes, and thus the solutions. In order to move forward, I put concrete proposals on the table based on EU conditions. We agree on the need to hold new elections, and the modalities of how to get there," he said.

Borrell said that they had not reached it yet, but that the way was known.

"We also discussed the arrests. I said that groundless arrests and abuses were completely unacceptable. The EULEX civilian mission in Kosovo will have a more important role in monitoring this in the coming period. I also underlined that the three Kosovo policemen who had been arrested had to be released as soon as possible and unconditionally. I think we have identified ways to move forward, but the parties need to deliver their commitments," he underlined.

Borrell said that he had pointed out to the Prime Minister of Kosovo the accusations regarding groundless arrests and ill-treatment of those arrested, and asked him for an urgent investigation and evaluation of the situation, as well as taking the necessary steps.

"The last thing I can say is that the Envoy and I will be in close communication with both sides in the coming period and that I will report on Monday to the heads of diplomatic missions where we are and in which direction we should move," he concluded.