The European Parliament has prepared the draft resolution on the relations between Kosova and Serbia, and on the terrorist attack in the village of Banjska, which is expected to be presented in the session on Thursday, October 19.

The resolution which was initiated by the social democrats in the European Parliament considers the situation in Kosova as “extremely worrying”.

The draft resolution strongly condemns the terrorist attack of September 24 against the the Kosovan Police in Banjska in the north of Kosova, where sergeant Afrim Bunjaku was murdered and two other officers were wounded.

Through this resolution, all EU member states have been invited to condemn the attack in the north if they have not done so, until now.

 “All parties are invited to calm the situation down in the north of Kosova and to avoid any rhetoric or actions that would lead to further growth of tensions. It is also required that all the facts about the attack be verified and a careful monitoring of the investigations by the Kosovan authorities.

The EU is asked to support the investigation by the Kosova authorities, including support from EULEX. The perpetrators responsible for these attacks must be held accountable and face Justice. Kosova authorities are requested to disclose all evidence related to the incident and for international institutions in Kosova, including EULEX, to evaluate this evidence.

It is expected that Serbia fully cooperates with this investigation and brings to justice those responsible for the attack and who are currently in Serbia, in accordance with the law, including their extradition to Kosova,” the Resolution states.

Kosova authorities are also urged to redouble their efforts to prevent the smuggling of weapons into the country.

Further, the Draft Resolution emphasizes the importance of establishing Serbia’s responsibility for the September 24 attack and the need to impose sanctions against Serbia, in accordance with the measures against Kosova, are emphasized. The EU and its members are invited to prepare sanctions against the organizers, financiers and perpetrators of the attack on September 24, 2023 in Banjska, based on the findings of the investigation.

Also, the EU is requested to impose restrictive measures on the Serbian leadership, in case of participation in the attack in Banjska or any of the above-mentioned condemned actions or attitudes, including the unwillingness to fully cooperate in the investigation of this case.

The Council of Europe is urged to adopt targeted restrictive measures, including but not limited to asset freezes and travel bans, against destabilizing actors in northern Kosova and leaders of major organized crime networks. In this context, the Council is invited to follow the example of the United States and impose sanctions against Milan Radojicic.

“The resolution strongly condemns the presence of the Serbian army on the border with Kosova, and welcomes the withdrawal of some Serbian troops from the border of Kosova, while calling on Serbia to refrain from repeating such situations in the future. Serbia is being asked to do more to de-escalate tensions caused by its military presence. In this regard, Serbia is requested to withdraw all military bases and equipment located close to the border with Kosova, including anti-aircraft systems and heavy artillery units, to refrain from any disproportionate military deployment in the region in the future and to cease any support for the illegal terrorist formations in the north of Kosova”, it is further stated in the Draft-Resolution.

It is further emphasized that such aggressive military behavior, together with the radicalized political messages in Serbia and the strong indications of the involvement of the Serbian state in the recent violence in the political sphere in the north of Kosova, point to a very dangerous but coherent policy of the Government of Serbia towards Kosova and its western partners.

The violent attacks in May 2023 against KFOR soldiers, Kosova police and against reporters are also strongly condemned. The competent authorities are invited to bring to justice all the perpetrators responsible for these attacks.

The resolution calls on KFOR to draft a plan for northern Kosova in case of further escalation. The deployment of 200 British troops to Kosova to reinforce KFOR is welcomed and all EU member states are invited to send additional troops without further delay. The resolution welcomes NATO’s decision to equip KFOR with heavier weapons in order to have a greater combat capability. NATO is required to ensure that KFOR has adequate capacity for continuous monitoring and surveillance of all of northern Kosova to ensure that any paramilitary incursion or attack, action or attempted kidnapping of Kosova police officers can be detected immediately. The EU and its member states are urged to further increase EULEX units on the ground, especially in northern Kosova and, if necessary, to temporarily strengthen its role in response to security challenges in northern Kosova.

/a.p./