Clashes in Pristina as Serbian Negotiator Visits

Borislav Stefanovic | Photo by FoNet

Just after Stefanovic entered the Kosovo government building this afternoon, a crowd of activists from the opposition Self-determination party began throwing stones at the building and official vehicles, breaking windows.

Several activists were injured after Kosovo police intervened with tear gas and batons, and activists clashed with police.

The group also threw bottles of red paint at the building, chanting “shame, shame” to express their opposition to the visit of the Serbian official.

Police spokesman Brahim Sadriu told Balkan Insight that 15 police officers were injured in today's protest, two seriously. "They have been injured by stones," Sadriu said. Six activists were also reported injured.

He said that the situation is now under police control, while a small group of persons remain close to the government building.

Local media have reported that the leader of the movement, Albin Kurti, as well as Glauk Konjufca, both MPs, were injured in the confrontation as a result of tear gas.

Stefanovic, who is the first Serbian official to meet Kosovo officials in Pristina since the NATO bombing in 1999, leads Belgrade's team in the ongoing talks between Serbia and Kosovo in Brussels.

"Given the number of problems, it is good to see each other more often, not only at official meetings in Brussels," Stefanovic told the media ahead of the visit.

While in Pristina, Stefanovic met with Kosovo's Deputy Prime Minister Hajredin Kuci, and has also held talks with Edita Tahiri, head of Kosovo’s delegation for dialogue with Serbia.

In another violent incident surrounding Stefanovic's visit, Kosovo police confirmed that an unknown group stoned the convoy escorting the Serbian official on the outskirts of Pristina.

“As a result, a window of an official vehicle of the escort was broken by the stones,” Brahim Sadriu, Kosovo police spokesperson, told Balkan Insight.

Kosovo media have also reported that protesters threw stones at a government building that houses Tahiri's office, again breaking windows.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said early today that the visit of Stefanovic in Kosovo is a step forward for better relations with Serbia.

“De facto this is recognition of Kosovo’s independence by Serbia,” Thaci told journalists, adding that Kosovo's delegation would visit Belgrade in a near future.

Before his visit, Stefanovic said he had already called Tahiri, the head of the Kosovo's negotiating team, to come to Belgrade, but as this was proceeding slowly, he had decided to go to Pristina.

"We shall speak about everything; there are many things that we can only solve together and this is a good opportunity for that," Stefanovic said in Belgrade.

While Stefanovic is expected to meet with representatives of NGOs and experts during his visit, it is not clear if any other government officials intend to speak with him during his time in Kosovo's capital.

According to a source within the Kosovo government, Deputy PM Kuci has asked Stefanovic to meet the minister of local governance, Slobodan Petrovic, leader of the Serb Independent Liberal Party, who also holds the position of deputy PM.

The president of Kosovo's Assembly, Jakup Krasniqi, said that he will not meet Stefanovic because he is not on the same political level and there is no reason for the meeting.

“In reality, it is not standard to expect the president of the assembly to host an administrative official from Serbia,” Krasniqi told journalists.

Arben Gashi, an MP from the biggest opposition party, Democratic League of Kosovo, LDK, said he is not aware of a potential meeting of LDK president Isa Mustafa and Stefanovic.

“He (Stefanovic) should meet his counterparts and not party presidents in Kosovo. I have no information that president Mustafa has scheduled to meet him,” Gashi told Balkan Insight on Wednesday.

The fourth round of Kosovo talks is scheduled to be held in Brussels on May 17 and 18.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 but Belgrade still claims the ex-province is an integral part of its territory, and has vowed never to recognise its statehood.