Both the attack in Banjska in the fall of 2023, and the attack on the Ibër Lepenci canal, have been called terrorist by the EU. This is what the high representative said about both events, and he spoke on behalf of the EU. But apart from calls for those responsible to be brought to justice, the EU has done nothing, nor have these calls been serious. One can imagine how Serbia would behave if Kosovo did not have so much evidence about the attack in Banjska
By Augustin Palokaj
The damage to the Ibër Lepenci channel in a terrorist attack that has been condemned by many addresses happened exactly on the day when the acceptance-surrender between the old and new structures took place in the EU. Saturday, November 30 was the last formal day of the mandate of the old European Commission, the president of the European Council and the high representative of the EU for Foreign Policy and Security. While Sunday, December 1 was the first working day for their descendants. This may have been the reason why the EU waited until the late hours of Saturday afternoon to come out with a statement about this attack. Or has the EU, in reaction, waited to consult with its representatives on the ground, with member countries and with other international missions, so that they do not make hasty statements. And when the statement came out, it was very clear. Josep Borrell said it on behalf of the EU on the last day of his mandate as EU High Representative for Foreign Policy and Security. He called this a terrorist attack, because regardless of who did it and with what goals, it cannot be called a destruction of the water infrastructure in any other way. Moreover, such attacks, which may be aimed at stopping drinking water for citizens, can be considered as a crime against humanity. War crimes trials often include attacks such as serious crimes against humanity.
For Borrell, it was probably an unfortunate symbolism, but also a proof of reality, the fact that on the last day he had to talk about a terrorist attack in Kosovo. This was also evidence of the great failure of him and all the officials, especially the special envoy Miroslav Lajcak, in the dialogue process that is said to be aimed at normalizing the relations between Kosovo and Serbia. After five years of efforts by Borrell and Lajcak, relations between Kosovo and Serbia are less normal. They are rather hostile. And it is no exaggeration to say that the tensions in the relationship have the potential to erupt into war. How abnormal the reports are, Lajcak, who speaks fluent Serbian, can understand if he listens to the press conference of the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic. Let me hear what epithets he uses about Kosovo, from “so-called Kosovo” to “occupiers”. These words are intentional and are intended to incite the Serbs against Kosovo and to legitimize the attacks on the bodies of Kosovo. As for the Serbs in Kosovo’s institutions, he said that they are “traitors”. While he also seriously insulted Western officials. So much for the success of the dialogue, for the Agreement on the road to the normalization of relations.
Not that there has been no improvement in the relations between Kosovo and Serbia, but there has been a great deterioration of these relations. They may blame the parties in the dialogue, and they may be right, but this does not undo their failure in the dialogue process. Lajcak and Borrell have not been impartial in the dialogue and have been much more critical of Kosovo than of Serbia. They were not in favor of the measures against Serbia even when they themselves had evidence that those responsible for acts of violence were identified, and it was proven that they are in Serbia. If we have to wait for evidence about the attack in Ibër-Lepenc, the evidence about who did the terrorist attack in Banjska is beyond doubt, we know who did it and where they are. It is also known who were the ones who attacked the KFOR soldiers and the media in the violent events of May 2023.
Even the attack in Banjska in the fall of 2023, and the attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal, the EU has called terrorist. This is what the high representative said about both events, and he spoke on behalf of the EU. But apart from calls for those responsible to be brought to justice, the EU has done nothing, nor have these calls been serious. One can imagine how Serbia would behave if Kosovo did not have so much evidence about the attack in Banjska. The EU and NATO must separate security issues from political calculations, because by agreeing to play political games with the north of Kosovo and in the north of Kosovo, they put the lives of citizens, infrastructure, and personnel at risk. that works for the presence of these two organizations in the field. For Banjska, the EU and the USA have done their best to ensure that Serbia does not have political consequences, and the impunity of the perpetrators of the attacks poses a risk to the security of Kosovo and the entire region. This approach must be changed.
The European Union has always warned about the situation in the north of Kosovo, calling for calm and no unilateral steps. But in most cases, he has considered Kosovo to be guilty of this, while he has done everything to ensure that Serbia does not have any consequences. This was also the case after the attacks on KFOR soldiers and journalists. Moreover, Milan Radoicic has taken responsibility for this attack, he is free in Serbia, and the EU has only repeated calls for “the perpetrators to be brought to justice”, but has never wanted to take measures against Serbia. even though it has concluded that Serbia has not taken the appropriate steps to bring to justice the perpetrators of the attack in Banjska. Even in the latest Progress reports, it is established that Serbia has not taken the appropriate steps to bring those responsible for the Banjska attack to justice.
Moreover, the EU still maintains punitive measures against Kosovo and has no intention of removing them. This is the absurdity of the EU, which admits that Kosovo is a victim of terrorist attacks, offers assistance, but maintains sanctions against it. Meanwhile, for Serbia, the great majority of the European Union puts pressure on some member countries to allow its advancement in the process of membership negotiations, after three years, as these negotiations are practically frozen.
