Kosovo gives three explanations for the closure of parallel structures

Kosovo's Ambassador to Brussels, Agron Bajrami, has reacted to the European Union's criticism of the Kosovo Police's action in closing down parallel structures in several regions on Wednesday, providing three main clarifications.

Bajrami stressed that these structures were illegal and run by Serbia, that there is no agreement for negotiations on them, and that the police operation has not caused tensions.

“For clarification: There are no Serbian-backed structures in Kosovo; they were illegal structures run by Serbia. There is no agreement that defines negotiations for the future of these structures. Today's Kosovo Police operation did not cause tensions,” Bajrami wrote on the social platform X.

EU criticism focused on the closure of these structures, arguing that they were "supported by Serbia" and that such actions conflict with Kosovo's obligations to the EU.

In its response, the EU stressed that these actions do not help reduce tensions in the north and that the status of these structures should be resolved through dialogue.

In addition to the EU, there were reactions from the US, Britain, Germany and France.

Kosovo Police announced that the purpose of the operation, at the request of the Ministry of Local Government Administration, was to disrupt Serbia's "illegal services" in Kosovo.

The Basic Prosecution Office in Pristina said, on the other hand, that it did not authorize the Kosovo Police to carry out this operation, as, according to it, there was no official request.

Which Serbian institutions were closed?

Kosovo began closing Serbian institutions as early as January 2024, initially closing down the provisional municipal bodies of Dragash, Suhareka, Prizren, and Rahovec, which were located south of the Ibar River.

Then the provisional municipal bodies of Peja, Istog, Klina, Skenderaj were closed, as well as those in the municipalities in the north: North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq.

Meanwhile, the branches of the Serbian Post in northern Kosovo, the vault of the National Bank of Serbia in Leposavic, the Postal Savings Bank, the Office for Kosovo of the Government of Serbia, the Directorate of the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, the Kosovo-Mitrovicë Administrative District, and the Center for Social Work in Vushtrri were also closed.

All these institutions with thousands of employees operated in the Serbian system, reports Telegrafi.

For clarification:
• There are no Serbia supported structures in Kosovo; these were Serbia-run illegal structures
• There is no agreement stipulating negotiations over the future of these structures
• Today's Kosovo Police operation did not cause any tensionshttps://t.co/EcUq8f4qvB

- Agron Bajrami (@AgronBajrami) January 15, 2025