KFOR commander on "escalation of violence"

KFOR Commander General Erhard Drews has said that he does not rule out the possibility of escalation of violence in Kosovo. According to him, the conflict could flare up caused by the Pristina - i.e. the Kosovo Albanian authorities - "as well as certain groups from northern Kosovo". KFOR commander on "escalation of violence" “This could happen if the government in Pristina lost patience and tried to establish full authority, in the north of Kosovo as well,” Drews underlined, adding that certain groups from northern Kosovo that would benefit from such a situation could also be the ones to cause conflicts. “The situation like that should be prevented,” the KFOR commander stated in an interview published on the German Bundeswerh website. Commenting the barricades in northern Kosovo, Drews said that KFOR had no ban on removing them, noting, however, that the removal without a tactical goal led nowhere, and that it always involved risking lives of KFOR soldiers but even more so of the people at the barricades. He stressed that the resistance of the Serb people in northern Kosovo is “encouraged” by several factors. “One of them is the belief of all Serbian citizens and local leaders that they belong to Serbia, rather than the state of Kosovo,” Drews explained, adding that this opinion had not changed in the past 12 years. “The second element are structures of business crime,” the KFOR commander noted. “I want a political solution for northern Kosovo, which will satisfy all sides. That is also what over 90 percent of the Kosovo population wants. I would like both Kosovo and Serbia to join the EU to improve their economic situation,” Drews underlined.

KFOR commander on "escalation of violence"

“This could happen if the government in Priština lost patience and tried to establish full authority, in the north of Kosovo as well,” Drews underlined, adding that certain groups from northern Kosovo that would benefit from such a situation could also be the ones to cause conflicts.

“The situation like that should be prevented,” the KFOR commander stated in an interview published on the German Bundeswerh website.

Commenting the barricades in northern Kosovo, Drews said that KFOR had no ban on removing them, noting, however, that the removal without a tactical goal led nowhere, and that it always involved risking lives of KFOR soldiers but even more so of the people at the barricades.

He stressed that the resistance of the Serb people in northern Kosovo is “encouraged” by several factors.

“One of them is the belief of all Serbian citizens and local leaders that they belong to Serbia, rather than the state of Kosovo,” Drews explained, adding that this opinion had not changed in the past 12 years.

“The second element are structures of business crime,” the KFOR commander noted.

“I want a political solution for northern Kosovo, which will satisfy all sides. That is also what over 90 percent of the Kosovo population wants. I would like both Kosovo and Serbia to join the EU to improve their economic situation,” Drews underlined.