Sveçla: Every tension in the north happens because of Belgrade's criminal decisions

The Minister of Internal Affairs, Xelal Svečla, has said that the Government of Serbia is behind all the tensions and legal violations that occur in the north of Kosovo. The same, according to him, also applies to the attacks with stun bombs against the Kosovo Police in the north in the last two days, in the efforts to organize the preliminary local elections for December 18 in the four municipalities in the north: North Mitrovica, Zubin Potok , Leposavic and Zvecan.

On Tuesday in Zubin-Potok and North Mitrovica, municipal election officials and police officers, while trying to open the offices of the Municipal Electoral Commissions, were attacked with stun grenades and shots in the air, by unknown persons. As a result of this, they have been unable to continue the preparatory process for the extraordinary elections in the north. There were also attacks in the north on Wednesday. On Thursday, it was decided to increase the presence of the Kosovo Police in this area. According to Minister Sveçla, the decision was taken due to the events of the past nights and in order to guarantee citizens a safe stay in their residences.

"The police make security assessments and based on them, they have seen fit to increase the number of law enforcement officers who all they do is provide security for all the residents there. The increase of the presence for no other purpose than the increase of security for the residents of these neighborhoods has led to this decision and its implementation", he said in the evening in a statement for public television.

According to Sveçla, the increase in the presence of the Police has been done in different locations in North Mitrovica.

He said that the Police and the Special Prosecutor's Office are continuing their investigations to see who is behind the attacks of the last few days. Sveçla himself has said that among the suspects are former policemen who resigned last month, in the wave of resignations of Serbs from Kosovo's institutions, after the Government's decision to punish the owners of cars with illegal license plates.

"I am optimistic that they will come out very quickly with the right results and will propose the right measures in terms of pursuing and bringing to justice all those involved in hooligan or terrorist acts, such as the case of the hand grenade attack on the Commission's office Electoral Municipal, to be brought to justice. They have assured me that they are working at full capacity and I am convinced that very soon we will have the right results. We know that these cases are not spontaneous. They are organized. They are run by professional people, led by the Government of Belgrade, not only supported politically, but also financially and in terms of coordination. I am convinced that the capacities of the Kosovo Police are adequate to deal with any situation", he said.

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According to Svečla, currently the situation in the north is "relatively calm". He refused to give an opinion on whether the elections should be held or not, but expressed optimism about the capacities of the police to provide security.

Regarding the request of the United States of America that the elections not be held, Sveçla said that Kosovo takes the appeals with the greatest seriousness, but added that the decision will be made after recommendations from the appropriate institutions.

"To express clearly why the security situation in this area can be endangered or worsened. This is due to the criminal and sometimes even terrorist acts of certain groups which are under the direction and support of Belgrade. It means that all these tensions, legal violations, occur because of the criminal decisions of the Government of Belgrade. Not because we as institutions are implementing the law and the Constitution in every corner of the Republic of Kosovo. To be clear about the responsibility, the destructive roles of the other party. Undoubtedly, then all institutions must be responsible in relation to the obligations and duties we have for and against the Republic of Kosovo", he concluded.