Stano: Pristina's police action escalatory, jeopardises negotiations

BRUSSELS - The EU noted with concern Monday's "Kosovo Police" operation at the offices of the Serbian Postal Savings Bank in the north of Kosovo-Metohija.

"The closure and confiscation of these offices without prior notice or coordination and only a few days after the last Dialogue meeting, which also covered the question of the premises of the Postal Savings Bank, is escalatory and goes against the spirit of normalisation and it undermines Kosovo’s good faith in achieving normalisation of relations through the Dialogue," EU spokesperson Peter Stano said in a statement.

"Yet again, uncoordinated actions by one of the parties put the implementation of the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation at risk. The operation by the Kosovo Police also jeopardises the ongoing negotiations on a temporary solution for people negatively affected by the regulation of the Kosovo Central Bank on cash operations.

In the continued absence of sustainable alternatives, this will have negative effects on the daily lives and living conditions of Kosovo Serbs and other communities eligible for financial transfers from Serbia.

Monday’s operation proves again that Kosovo authorities prioritise unilateral and uncoordinated actions rather than cooperation with its friends and allies.

The status of all Serbia-supported structures and services is foreseen to be resolved in the EU-facilitated Dialogue, in connection with the establishment of the Association/Community of Serb-Majority municipalities," the statement said.

"The EU urges Kosovo and Serbia to return to the negotiations table and to agree to the latest compromise proposal tabled by the EU Facilitator that allows the eligible beneficiaries to receive financial transfers from Serbia," Stano also said.