Radojevic: Reconciliation between peoples and communities cannot be built on police bases and batons

The Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojevic, said today, commenting on a statement by Kosovo's caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti that more than 20 police stations and bases had been opened in the north, that reconciliation between peoples and communities cannot be built on police bases, batons and boots.

Radojevic wrote on Facebook that Kurti's intention is clear, but that it is unclear why the international missions EULEX, UNMIK and OSCE, as well as the British, Swedish, Dutch and Swiss embassies in Pristina, remain silent about it.

“Kurti proudly boasted last night about how more than 20 police stations and bases had been opened in the north. But he remained silent about the brutal beating of Nenad Raskovic. He remained silent about the seizure of land belonging to Serbian landowners to build those same stations and bases. He remained silent about the harassment of Serbian boys over fan jerseys. He also remained silent about the fact that this same police force is involved in demolishing Serbian houses and vacation homes without any legal basis,” he said.

As he added, he did not offer residents of the northern municipalities factories, new jobs, economic development or a better life.

“Of all the potential investments, he offered the residents of North Mitrovica a ‘museum of Serbian crimes.’ Reconciliation between peoples and communities cannot be built on police bases, batons and boots. What took decades to build, Kurti is demolishing at lightning speed. His intention is clear,” the Mayor of North Mitrovica said.

Kosovo's caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti said last night that Kosovo is safer than ever before thanks to the strengthening of its police forces, and that the gendarmerie would provide additional reinforcement for the Kosovo Police.

“More than 20 police stations and bases have been established and strengthened throughout the north, where previously there was not a single police station,” Kurti noted, adding that the establishment of the Kosovo Gendarmerie would provide additional reinforcement for the Kosovo Police.