The President of Albania, Bajram Begaj, commenting on the tense situation in the north of Kosovo, said that no one can question the sovereignty and integrity of Kosovo and its right to build and consolidate institutions.
In a reaction on Facebook on Monday evening, Begaj called the violence against KFOR by the Serbs unacceptable.
"I strongly condemn the misuse of the Serbian population of northern Kosovo and the unacceptable violence against the KFOR peacekeeping troops in Kosovo. No pretext can be used to prevent the full implementation of the Brussels and Ohrid agreement, which shows the right way to solve open problems and normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia. "No one can question the sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Kosovo, as well as its right to build and consolidate democratic and multi-ethnic institutions," he wrote.
Begaj also appealed to the Kosovo authorities for more patience and coordination with partners.
"But also, I publicly repeat my fraternal appeal to the Kosovar authorities for more patience and prudence and especially close coordination with our partners", he wrote.
Since Friday, Serbs in the north have been protesting against the entry of new mayors into municipal facilities. Initially, the Kosovo Police allowed the mayors to enter the facilities, while on Monday - on the second day of tensions - KFOR intervened. In the evening, KFOR announced that at least 25 soldiers were injured in Zveçan by violent protesters.
The new presidents, Izmir Zeqiri of Zubin-Potoku, Ilir Peci of Zveçani and Lulzim Hetemi of Leposaviq, took the oath in their positions on May 25. While the mayor of North Mitrovica, Erden Atiq, was sworn in on May 19. They won in April's extraordinary elections, which were boycotted by the majority of Serbs. The elections were also contested by the government of Serbia, which has encouraged the local Serbs not to recognize the new municipal leaders.
