Growing concerns: An ultimatum was set; New demands

Growing concerns: An ultimatum was set; New demands

In the north of Kosovo and Metohija, Serbs have been at the barricades for the 15th day, demanding freedom for the arrested and the withdrawal of Kosovo special forces from the north.

Serb List announced that Pristina published a new list for the persecution of Serbs.

The list includes almost the entire leadership of the Serbian List, prominent Serbs from Kosovo and Metohija, but also the brother and son of President Aleksandar Vučić. Serbs in the southern province and officials in Belgrade reacted strongly and condemned Pristina's moves, reports RTS.

Brnabić replied to Ischinger: Do you know why the Serbs are protesting?

Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, reacted today to the post of German diplomat and former EU representative in the negotiations on Kosovo and Metohija Wolgang Ischinger.

Dear @ischinger, do you even know why Serbs are protesting? Their pleas: 1) implement the Brussels Agreement (signed in 2013!); 2) basic rule of law (not to be arrested at will & kept hostage without even a contact with their families). Too much to ask for? Contrary to EU values?", Brnabić wrote on Twitter.

Ischinger: Deeply concerned about the Kosovo situation

Ischinger previously stated that he is deeply concerned about the ongoing tensions in Kosovo and Metohija and assessed that urgent and decisive action by the EU is needed.

"Deeply concerned about continuing tensions. Decisive EU action/role urgent. Has Serbia been made aware that inciting violence in neighboring state Kosovo would make continued EU accession process impossible? @vonderleyen @JosepBorrellF" Ischinger wrote on Twitter, as RTS reports.

Petković: EULEX and KFOR are not there to remove barricades

The director of the Office of the Government of Serbia for Kosovo and Metohija, Petar Petković, said today that the Serbian people in the north of Kosovo respect the International Peacekeeping Force KFOR and the EU Rule of Law Mission EULEX, but that it is not their task to remove the barricades.

"We have nothing against them being in the north of Kosovo and Metohija, they should be there to protect the Serbian people. They are not there to remove barricades, and it is a good statement of Commander KFOR that the issue must be resolved through dialogue, nothing by force, nothing as threatened by (Prime Minister of Kosovo) Albin Kurti," Petkovic told TV Pink.

In response to announcements by Kosovo officials that they will remove the barricades if KFOR and EULEX do not do so, Petković says that Kurti "should not play with Serbian heads". "One drop of spilled blood can lead us into a spiral of violence, and we certainly do not need that. We are the ones who are always advocating for peace and how to preserve the lives of our people in Kosovo and Metohija. It is difficult, but it is our job to protect our people," he emphasized.

Pristina set an ultimatum

Another open threat comes from Pristina: if the KFOR mission does not remove the barricades where Serbs have been demanding basic rights for 15 days, the Kosovo police will do so, reports Novosti.

"KFOR has been asking for some time to remove the barricades themselves. Now we are waiting for them to fulfill their obligation. We have policemen in Jarinje and Brnjak. I believe that KFOR and international factors are determined to do it as soon as possible. For greater stability, we are waiting for those who set it up to get rid of the barricades or KFOR. The wait has come to an end," Xhelal Sveçla said, and added that they are collecting information on one of the leaders of the Serb List, Milan Radoičić, and that he will soon fall into their hands.