Kurti responds to Borrell: Police operations in Kosovo are not the concern of any European official

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti reacted today to suggestions made by the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, which include that Kurti should coordinate the decisions he makes with KFOR and EULEX. Kurti stated in response that police operations are not the business of any European official, as reported by Koha.

"We are a democratic republic. I don't know when a criminal is arrested because that is a matter for the investigative police, the units that make arrests, and the prosecution. There have been arrests that I see at the same time as you do because we are a democratic republic. Such was the arrest of Lune (Milun Milenkovic). However, the operational action when someone needs to be arrested is not my concern, nor that of any European official, I believe. The rule of law in Kosovo is the responsibility of the Kosovo Police, which has undergone numerous trainings in Western countries and learned how not to allow police operations to be politicized. Therefore, I cannot compromise on constitutionalism and legality," Kurti said.

Kurti described it as incomprehensible that international mechanisms need to be alerted to the establishment of order and law in Kosovo.

"It doesn't make sense to issue a warning before implementing the rule of law," Kurti said.

He expressed his readiness to meet with the Serbian side and European mediators.

"I have expressed readiness for dialogue. When they schedule a meeting, I am ready, but I cannot violate the laws of Kosovo," Kurti stated.

Regarding Borrell's statement that a new meeting within the dialogue cannot be organized until Kosovo takes steps to de-escalate the situation, Kurti reiterated that the presence of the Kosovo Police in the north will be reduced only when "criminal groups" leave that area.