The Kosovo government declared the „Civil Protection“ and the „Northern Brigade“ as „terrorist organizations“ yesterday, at the proposal of the Kosovo Minister of Internal Affairs, Pristina-based media reported.
A Kosovo government session was held in Pristina yesterday, during which several decisions were issued, including one decision regarding „Civil Protection“ and „Northern Brigade“.
The Kosovo Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, alleged that these organizations represent a „serious and direct threat to the security and constitutional order of Kosovo“, wrote Pristina-based Koha.
„Based on the assessments of the security institutions in the Republic of Kosovo, the illegal formations ‘Civil Protection’ and its faction ‘Northern Brigade’ represent a serious and direct threat to the security and constitutional order of Kosovo,“ Kurti stated.
The session was also attended by Kosovo’s Minister of Internal Affairs, Xhelal Svecla.
Svecla said that the security agencies are working on identifying and reacting to „threats to the constitutional order and security of Kosovo,“ Koha reported.
He stressed that terrorism and violent extremism remain „one of the main concerns“.
„Relevant institutions have identified several terrorist groups that carry out direct terrorist actions against Kosovo within the framework of relevant mandates. These groups have been tolerated over the years. For more than two years, our legal decisions have been contested with barricades, armed attacks on members of the police, attacks on state facilities, attacks on political opponents, attacks on journalists, and the like. The MIA is working on identifying these persons who have committed criminal acts,“ he said.
This minister claims that bringing the members of these groups to justice will ensure peace and security for citizens threatened by them.
He also said that the decision does not apply to members of organizations that were previously given „amnesty“, but also that it instantly prohibits the activities of the aforementioned groups.
Svecla also said that this decision was made in coordination with international partners.
„We are continuously coordinating with all our allies, sometimes we agree and sometimes we disagree. Without a doubt, we coordinated when it comes to this step,“ he stated, adding that over time he will share the details of this process with strategic partners, Gazeta Express reports.
He noted that these countries are democratic „with which Kosovo shares common values“.
„Democratic countries, the EU, EULEX and the KFOR mission share common values,“ he underlined.
Koha writes that the Kosovo Minister for Communities and Returns, Nenad Rasic, objected to this proposal. Rasic also asked Svecla to reconsider, so as to avoid making „urgent decisions“.
Rasic was also reportedly the only MP to vote against the decision.
„Several proposals have been rushed and I think we should proceed with more care. With respect to you Minister, you are a worker. Please, if there is an opportunity, think about reconsidering this proposal and decision once again, because I fear that we will distance ourselves from our interlocutors in the north. Such an approach will distance us a lot,“ Rasic warned.
Svecla replied that the declaration of these organizations as terrorist is „of key essence for the citizens“.
„These two entities are preventing this conversation with the citizens there through violence and blackmail. We are convinced that bringing the members of these two entities to justice is a guarantee that dialogue and cooperation are possible and will bring results.”
Last week, Svecla announced a proposal for the Kosovo government to declare „Civil Protection“ and „Northern Brigade“ as terrorist organizations.
He said this on Saturday at the special forces base of the Kosovo Police, a day after these units carried out an action in Zvean, in which a vehicle containing a large amount of weapons, ammunition and other equipment was found.
Numerous Pristina officials claimed that the weapons and equipment in question were planned to be used in a terrorist attack that was allegedly prevented by the Kosovo security institutions.
On the other hand, official Belgrade accused Pristina of planting weapons and ammunition to accuse the Serbs and continue with the arrests.
„Civil Protection“ in the north of Kosovo was abolished, and its members were integrated into several Kosovo ministries as per the agreement made between Belgrade and Pristina on Civil Protection in March 2015.
The Northern Brigade caught the public attention last summer when graffiti appeared on the streets of North Mitrovica with inscriptions – „We are here, don’t worry – Northern Brigade“, after which accounts on social networks with the same name were created.
The Serbian president also spoke about the „Northern Brigade“ immediately after the graffiti appeared, stating that he was „worried about the Serbs’ desire to resist Albanian violence“.
Although the graffiti said „Northern Brigade“ (Severna Brigada), Vucic said that it was „Brigade North“ (Brigada Sever), because „Northern Brigade“ is a Red Star fan group, while correcting the journalist at the press conference.
With the exception of the graffiti and comments on social networks, those who presented themselves under this name have never come forward publicly, nor has there been any confirmed information available to the public about whether there is an organization under this name and what it does.
Preuzimanje i objavljivanje tekstova sa portala KoSSev nije dozvoljeno bez navođenja izvora. Hvala na poštovanju etike novinarske profesije.
