What happened in Banjska wasn’t just a spontaneous thing. It’s clear that a group of Serbs was coordinated, they were trained, they brought in sophisticated military-grade weapons, much of which was Serbian origin, and they came to destabilize the north, the US ambassador to Pristina said. Hovenier added that everything suggests that the group was supported by some structure or structures, noting that many things about Banjska remain unknown.
On the other hand, he rejected attempts to blame the entire Kosovo Serb community for the events in Banjska, underlining that the individuals who pulled the trigger and placed explosives are the ones responsible. The ambassador stressed that while the murdered policeman was a victim, so are Serbs from the north who only want to live their lives in conditions of dignity and security. He also called on the Serbs to make peace with the fact that they live in Kosovo.
In a conversation with representatives of several media outlets, including a journalist of the KoSSev portal, Hovenier said that the embassy has some information about the recent events in Banjska, but also that the investigations are ongoing.
“This takes time. This was a complicated circumstance and it will take some time to understand all the specifics,” he said.
The ambassador noted that some parts are somewhat clearer.
“We do not believe this to have been just a spontaneous thing. It’s clear that a group of individuals was coordinated and sophisticated. They brought in sophisticated military grade weapons, much of which was Serbian origin with intent to carry out actions and operations that would destabilize the north. I can’t say exactly what they were going to do, when and how. We don’t understand that yet,” Hovenier added.
He recalled that the number of the men in this group was subject to speculation, and that there were thirty of them or even maybe more.
“Ethnic Serbs, as far as we understand, leaving behind a capability of sophisticated armaments, that does suggest that some structure or structures were supporting them, they received training. That’s pretty clear on the tactics they employed and the ways they interacted. And the material that they possessed doesn’t just come from individuals going to public markets and buying things. So that we absolutely understand.”
The ambassador also recalled that the former Srpska Lista vice-president, Milan Radoičić, took responsibility for the organization of the attack in Banjska.
“So that is another factoid that we know, although I would just say the fact that he’s now pled not guilty in the Serbian court systems is puzzling given his earlier statement, assuming full responsibility for this.”
At the KoSSev journalist’s remark that Radoičić, as his lawyer conveyed to the public, did not deny that he participated and organized the attack, but rather that he denied that the „activities“ in Banjska are related to the criminal acts he is being charged with, Hovenier says that the US considers what happened on 24 September as crime.
“And I would say murdering a police officer in most jurisdictions is a crime. And that is how we see this event. So I would also say bringing in military equipment with the intention to destabilize a region is also likely criminal conduct. Now, again, courts have to prove that, but that would be our going in assessment.”
It is a firm view of the United States government that those responsible for this crime and both the actual criminal act of killing a police officer, using force to take over a religious site, engaging in a lethal exchange of gunfire with the legitimate police and security services of Kosovo, need to be held accountable.
While saying that they are still trying to understand what happened, Hovenier remarked that they “do not believe that the question of responsibility ended with a statement by Mr. Radoičić claiming responsibility.”
“I’d say that it is appropriate for our security services, working with Kosovo security services and other partners, to continue to try to understand what happened. The United States has also been clear – those who are responsible for this need to be held accountable, and that remains our clear position. So we’re going to continue working to understand what happened, who is responsible and why, and then do everything we can to ensure those who are responsible are held accountable,” the US ambassador said.
On the allegation that weapons came from Tuzla – we are waiting for more information on that
The Serbian judicial authorities accuse Radoičić of allegedly prpcuring weapons, ammunition and explosives from Tuzla since January, delivering them to Belgrade, and then storing them in the territory of Kosovo.
Hovenier said yesterday that he is familiar with these allegations, adding that he finds them „interesting“.
“We look forward to getting more information about that. It’s important that Serbian authorities are now starting to take a look at what I would call custody or chain of custody of material. There was material produced in Serbia that somehow found itself in armored vehicles in Banjska. And that is something that needs to be understood and addressed.”
I can’t validate claims that things came from here or there, Tuzla or what have you, yet. There’s still work to be done, he stated.
On the extradition of Radoičić and cooperation with SL
When asked whether the US will support Kosovo’s request for Radoičić’s extradition, Hovenier replied that he is unsure whether it is appropriate for the United States to have an opinion on extradition.
“I understand that is particularly complex issue between Kosovo and Serbia, given the fact that Serbia does not recognize Kosovo. But I also understand that some of the Brussels agreements actually do have provisions for mutual legal assistance. And so I think this is both a political issue but also a technical issue. What I do believe since Radoičić has, again, through his lawyer, made a statement claiming responsibility for organizing this event that we consider to be a crime and having participated in it, that he needs to be held accountable. That’s the first point I would make.”
Addressing relations with Srpska Lista, bearing in mind the fact that Radoičić was a high-ranking member of the party until recently, when he resigned soon after the incident, Hovenier reminded that the US introduced sanctions against Radoičić two years ago, yet continued to cooperate with the party.
“I will note that in 2021, I believe, the United States government designated Mr. Radoičić under the U.S. Treasury process and imposed with his designation sanctions against him. Because of our concerns, because of – not our concerns, but our assessment of his link to transnational organized crime and criminal conduct. So he was already someone we refused to deal with. It didn’t mean that we refused to deal with the party,” he stated.
Now that he is no longer in the leadership of Srpska Lista, that’s a good thing from our perspective, Hovenier added.
“We felt it was inappropriate for him to be in the party leadership once he has been designated by the United States Treasury for his links to transnational organized crime. But I wouldn’t say that his behavior necessarily disqualifies an entire political party.”
Placing the blame on the international community is shortsighted
When asked about possible security failures in the case of Banjska, in other words, the idea that the international community bear part of the responsibility, bearing in mind that the group of Serb reportedly entered Kosovo, transferring weapons, then managed to get out and reach Serbia proper, Hovenier reiterated that “the criminals who chose to enter Kosovo with criminal intent” bear full responsibility.
“Blaming the international community for what happened, blaming the authorities of Kosovo for what happened, seems shortsighted. It’s kind of like blaming the spouse of an alcoholic, when the alcoholic gets drunk and drives the car and harms somebody, it’s not the spouse’s fault. They might have been aware of it or even try to prevent it, this is something like that,” Hovenier underlined.
He emphasized that the international community is doing its best to support greater peace and calm in the north.
“The international community does take seriously its efforts to support the government of Kosovo. And, of course, as you saw, KFOR has now announced an increase in its force, posture and presence to help better control the border with Serbia.”
No information about a negotiated withdrawal
Addressing the speculations about a negotiated withdrawal of the group of Serbs that clashes with the KP into Serbia proper, Hovenier said that he has no information about the matter.
“I do not have any information about a negotiated withdrawal, and that would surprise me very much. My sense was the authorities of the Republic of Kosovo were very focused on arresting – to the maximum extent possible – those involved in this incident, particularly in the light of the death of one of their police officers earlier that day.”
In his words, the terrain around the village of Banjska is “pretty unforgiving,” adding that it is not at all impossible for people to be able to escape through the woods, to the mountains and the hills.
“I’m not a military person. I don’t have my maps in front of me showing the right routes. I am not aware of any information that would corroborate that claim.”
Some suggest that the entire Serb community bears guilt for Banjska, we reject that, specific people are guilty
Hovenier specified that “some of the real victims of the 24th of September is the Serb community living in the north”:
“Who just want to go on with their lives and live their lives in conditions of dignity, security, go to work, come home, send their kids to school. And, you know, this was incredibly frightening, as you know well, for them too. They are also victims here. That would be our perspective.”
He revealed that he noticed in some conversations “in the public sphere in Kosovo” – “some people who would like to suggest that the entire Serb community bears guilt for the events of the 24th of September.”
“We reject that. There are specific people who are guilty of committing a crime on the 24th of September. And from my perspective, the people who have the most blood on their hands are the people that that either pulled the trigger or placed explosives that resulted in the death of Mr. Bunjaku. Those are the people who need to be held accountable,” he added, underlining that it is wrong to suggest that the Serbs are guilty.
“The Serbs in Kosovo have the right to live their lives in conditions of dignity and security, whether that is in the north or in the south. And we will continue to work hard both through our assistance programs, and our engagement, and our encouragement with the government to try to help to try to advance that vision and that goal,” he stated.
Concerns of Serbs to be addressed, but they should accept that they live in Kosovo
Asked about the process of integration of Serbs from the north of Kosovo, especially after a series of crises that are still ongoing, Hovenier emphasized that integration is a „very high priority“ of the entire international community.
“The United States has supported Kosovo as a sovereign, independent country. That support, of course, is predicated on the understanding that it would be democratic and multi-ethnic. And we’ve invested a lot, I think, over many years in our efforts to advance the multi-ethnic character of the country, whether it is working on the legal framework that establishes a good set of rights for communities in Kosovo, whether it is working through the hard issues of seeing those legal provisions actually implemented where, you know, progress has been uneven.”
Hovenier said that the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo is “an essential, critical, integral part of Kosovo.” The people of the North and the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo more broadly, will remain a high priority for the United States, he added, noting that Serbs should still “accept the fact that they live in Kosovo.”
“We want the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo to live in conditions of security and dignity. Now, we believe they need to come to terms and accept the fact that they live in Kosovo. We do not see Kosovo as part of Serbia. We know where the international border is between two countries. And these are two separate countries from a U.S. policy perspective. But we also think it’s very important to be responsive to the concerns of the ethnic Serb community in Kosovo.”
ASM – commitment that must be fulfilled, Pristina to put forward a credible vision
According to Hovenier, from the Ahtisaari days, it was always clear there would need to be some special arrangements and provisions for the Serb community.
“And that is also part of our work, which remains ongoing – to work with the government of Kosovo, in actually putting forward a credible vision for how Association of Serb majority municipalities would work.”
It needs to be consistent with Kosovo’s current constitution and the 2016 Constitutional Court decision, he added.
“We reject any effort to suggest it should have executive competences. We’ve laid out our position, I think, quite clearly in a January 30th op-ed from our counselor at the State Department, Derek Chollet, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Escobar. But with those kind of guardrails or constraints in place, we believe it’s really important to move forward because we understand this to be an important both signal for the Serb community, but also additional arrangement for the Serb community that allows them to exercise, in a coordinated way, the rights they have, the authorities the municipal governments have, so this is a priority for us.”
The President of Kosovo recently proposed that the statute for the ASM be designed in coordination between Pristina and Washington. Asked about this proposal, Hovenier said that the US would welcome anything that Kosovo does to “put forward a credible and reasonable proposal on the Association of Serb majority municipalities.”
“The question of with whom precisely the government of Kosovo works and what arrangement is, I think, less important. We have always stood ready to give our feedback to the government of Kosovo. That remains the case. At the end of the day, though, this is going to be part of the EU facilitated dialogue and we shouldn’t lose sight of that.”
While reiterating that the ASM formation is one of the commitments undertaken by Pristina within the dialogue, the ambassador stressed that Kosovo must fulfill it.
“It was back in 2013, right? And the more recent Basic Agreement also includes a recognition that all prior commitments need to be fulfilled. So again, under the Basic Agreement concluded earlier this year, this is a commitment that Kosovo needs to fulfill. So ultimately this is going to be part of the EU facilitated dialogue, but if Kosovo wants to consult with us or others on how best to put something forward that is capable of working, we stand ready to give that advice.”
We are not passive or disinterested, the EU takes the lead in the dialogue
When asked whether the US will take the lead role in the dialogue, Hovenier repeated that it is being facilitated by the European Union, adding that it is „appropriate“, given that both Kosovo and Serbia want to become members of the European Union.
He also emphasized that the implementation of obligations from this year’s Basic Agreement actually marks the criteria for their accession to the Union.
However, he specifies that the US is not a „passive disinterested actor“.
“I think anybody who’s watching it would challenge the assertion… So it’s not that the United States isn’t playing a role. We are not in the lead. We are perfectly happy to play a key supporting role in advancing this EU facilitated dialogue. And I think that is right. I think that is best for the people of Kosovo and for the people of Serbia.”
Kosovo government to implement decision on V.Decani land
The US ambassador underlined that the position of the United States regarding the property of the monastery of Visoki Dečani has not changed.
“We do believe that the government of Kosovo has a responsibility to fully implement the Constitutional Court decision with regard to the land of the Decani monastery. We don’t believe that Constitutional Court decisions are optional in any democracy. The executive branch of government has a responsibility to implement that decision, and that remains our stated expectation to the government of Kosovo,” Hovenier underlined.
Petković is not a judge or a prosecutor
The ambassador also addressed the claims that many Serbs, mostly south of the Ibar, are reportedly charged with war crimes without evidence.
Hovenier, however, revealed that he is surprised by “the extent to which people say there is no strong evidence before the court process has begun.”
“The United States government has done a decent amount of work and investment to try to ensure that there are independent judges and independent prosecutors in this country who do independent things.”
On the other hand, the question of what evidence exists and how good it is shouldn’t be something that the head of the Kosovo Office, Petar Petković, “gets to have an opinion on” – according to Hovenier.
“He is not a judge or a prosecutor. It should be done by the prosecutor in a court of law. And we do encourage prosecutors to only pursue cases that they believe merit, you know, a criminal process. We do believe that the court systems can and should be independent and come to a final determination.”
He pointed out that there aren’t a lot of statutes of limitations on war crimes. “And so sometimes evidence only does come out much later.”
“And it is still the responsibility of authorities to hold people accountable who are suspected of war crimes. I’m not defending every single arrest. I don’t mean it like that. But I am puzzled a little bit by the suggestion that every time an ethnic Serb is arrested for any reason, there are howls of protest that this is an effort to somehow carry out a coordinated campaign against the ethnic Serb community.”
It is very important that the government has to prove that someone is guilty of a crime in the court of law for that person to actually be convicted. And they need to have high standards for who they are pursuing, he added.
“In that regard, the international community has been clear with the government of Kosovo, all of these cases, because they are so sensitive and politically and go right to the heart of what we’re trying to achieve with a multi-ethnic community and society in which people live in conditions of dignity and security, that there are a lot of resources for trial monitoring. This is largely the EU through EULEX, but we support it as well.”
Hovenier also underlined that it is the position of the US that the returnees, the people who want to return to Kosovo, should be able to have that opportunity.
He says that he conveyed that message to the Kosovo government. Hovenier emphasizes that his embassy has implemented numerous assistance programs, as well as that they plan to continue improving the rights of returnees.
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