Joint Statement on the Recent Developments in the North of Kosovo
As delivered by Ambassador Michael R. Carpenter
to the Permanent Council, Vienna
September 28, 2023
I am making this joint statement on behalf of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and in my national capacity.
We strongly condemn the violent attacks near the Banjska Monastery on September 24 that led to the loss of life of a Kosovo Police Sergeant. We offer our sincere condolences on such a tragic death in the line of duty. The perpetrators must be held accountable and brought to justice through a transparent investigative process.
We appreciate the close coordination of the Kosovo Police with the NATO-led Kosovo Force and the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo to ensure the safety of civilians, and we continue to monitor the situation closely.
We reiterate our commitment to deescalate tensions. In that vein, our priority remains moving forward on the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, starting with the return to the EU-facilitated Dialogue. Diplomacy is the only path toward enduring peace.
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