Latvian General Kalnins: Shooting in Zubin Potok was intended to remove roadblocks

The intention of the people who fired during the patrolling of Latvian troops was to reduce the peacekeepers’ activities. Most likely, one of the goals of this provocation was to remove roadblocks, so that people could move more freely, Latvian Chief of Defense Lieutenant General Leonids Kalnins said, commenting on the shooting that was heard in Zubin Potok on December 25, Baltic Times reported.

Upon returning to the soldiers’ base of the Latvian KFOR contingent that evening, it was found that neither of the two patrol cars was damaged.

"The level of threats that the Latvian soldiers face in Kosovo has not increased many times, but the intention of the people who shot during the patrolling of the Latvian troops was to reduce the peacekeepers’ activities," Kalnins said.

He believes that the situation in Kosovo has been escalating since October due to the demand for the license plates change, and that the municipal elections have only increased tensions in Kosovo society. Regardless of the shooting incident, Kalnins does not believe the level of threats to Latvian peacekeepers has increased significantly.

"In any case, this is a peacekeeping mission, there are two conflicting parties, and such incidents can be expected in the future as well. Our goal is to complete our tasks together with our allies. This kind of incident cannot scare us. The task of the International Security Forces (KFOR) is to reduce tension. Most likely, one of the goals of this provocation was to remove roadblocks, so that people could move more freely," the Latvian Chief of Defense explained.