BRATISLAVA: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday said Kosovo officials bore “responsibility” following clashes this week over local election results that left more than 80 people injured.
“It is very clear that Kosovar authorities bear responsibility for the current situation and there is non-compliance with an agreement that was nevertheless important, and which was secured just a couple of weeks ago,” Macron told reporters in Bratislava.
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Earlier this month, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic held talks in Brussels mediated by the European Union to normalise ties between the two countries.
The clashes in north Kosovo erupted when the government in Pristina used its police force to try to install ethnic Albanian mayors in northern towns where Serbs make up the majority. Serbs had boycotted local elections.
The situation spiralled out of control after Serbs tried to force their way into a town hall in the northern town of Zvecan, but were repelled by Kosovo police firing tear gas.
The NATO-led peacekeeping force (KFOR) tried to disperse the most violent among the crowd by using shields and batons but were met by a hail of rocks, bottles and Molotov cocktails.
A total of 30 peacekeepers – 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians – were wounded in the clashes, according to KFOR.
Among the protesters, 52 were injured, three of them “seriously”, while five Serbs were arrested for taking part in the clashes.
“We very clearly notified the Kosovar authorities that it was a mistake to proceed with these elections,” Macron said.
The French head of state said he hoped to see the presidents of Kosovo and Serbia “together” on Thursday, on the sidelines of talks in Moldovan capital Chisinau.
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