Vucic: Kurti is the cause of all problems in Kosovo; the incident in Banjska does not suit Serbia

The cause of all problems in Kosovo was Albin Kurti, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated in an interview with Reuters, dismissing any claims of Serbia's involvement in the incident in Banjska because it certainly did not suit Belgrade.

Vucic said that Albin Kurti wanted to drive the Serbs out of Kosovo and obstruct a compromise solution necessary to improve relations between Belgrade and Pristina.

"The cause of all problems in Kosovo is Albin Kurti. He's the one who brought all of this," Vucic said.

He said that Kurti's refusal to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, a body that, according to the 2013 agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, would grant Kosovo Serbs greater autonomy, had fueled tensions leading to violence in Banjska, Reuters reported.

"For us, the situation in Kosovo is obviously terrible, but... we must stand by our people... and strive to maintain peace," Vucic said, emphasizing that the solution always lay in dialogue.

He reminded that Belgrade had condemned the killing of a policeman in Banjska and added that Serbia would "initiate proceedings with the relevant judicial authorities" and investigate the suspects.

"What are the criminal acts, that's a question for the prosecutor," Vucic said.

He accused the Kosovo Police of killing one of the armed attackers "from a distance of one meter" after surrendering, describing it as an "execution".

Vucic denied the claims of Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani, that Belgrade had been inciting violence, stating that Serbia would not benefit from it as it would jeopardize its position in negotiations with Pristina under EU auspices.

"Why would this be of benefit to Belgrade? What would be the idea? To destroy our position that we've been building for a year? To ruin all of this in one day? ... Serbia does not want war," Vucic emphasized.

He mentioned that Serbia would investigate the origin of the weapons confiscated by the Kosovo Police after the incident.

He also stated that Milan Radoicic, who, according to the authorities in Pristina, had been present at the shooting, would be "summoned by the prosecutor."

Reuters noted that Serbia considered Kosovo an integral part of its territory and, with the support of numerous countries, including members of the UN Security Council with veto power, such as Russia, China, and five EU member states, refused to recognize its independence. Belgrade finances schools, the public healthcare system, and most other institutions in parts of Kosovo where Serbs make up the majority.