Stop Tear-Gas Protests, US Tells Kosovo Opposition

On a brief visit to Pristina, US Secretary of State John Kerry criticised Kosovo opposition parties’ disruption of parliament in protest against agreements to normalise relations with Serbia.

US Secretary of State John Kerry and Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa at Pristina airport. Photo: Kosovo Government

Kerry on Wednesday endorsed the EU-brokered agreements between Pristina and Belgrade, and urged Kosovo’s opposition to use democratic methods to express its discontent.

Opposition MPs have repeatedly set off tear gas inside parliament in protest in recent weeks.

But Kerry said that parliament “is not the place for tear gas and it is not the place for intimidation”.

“All parties need to renounce the use of violence in public life, and commit to engaging with each other peacefully and constructively,” he added.

Three opposition parties, Vetevendosje (Self-Determination), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK) and the Initiative for Kosovo (Nisma) have paralysed the work of parliament since mid-September.

They are demanding that the Pristina government scrap its recent EU-mediated agreement with Belgrade to set up an Association of Serbian Municipalities, which they say will give Kosovo Serbs too much power.

Two opposition MPs, Albin Kurti and Donika Kadaj, have been remanded in custody for 30 days, while three others, Fisnik Ismaili, Haxhi Shala and Ismajl Kurteshi, have been put under house arrest for setting off tear gas.

But Kerry said that Washington, Pristina’s top international ally, fully backed the agreements with Belgrade.

“Make no mistake, we would not support any agreement that would threaten the sovereignty, security and independence of Kosovo,” he said.

Speaking alongside Kerry at Pristina Airport, Kosovo Prime Minister Isa Mustafa said that the dialogue with Belgrade will continue, despite the opposition’s protests.

“Kosovo stands determined to continue dialogue on the normalization of relations with Serbia, while the agreement on Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities remains to be verified by the Constitutional Court,” Mustafa said.

After Pristina, Kerry travelled to Belgrade to take part in the annual Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, OSCE ministerial council, this year organized by Serbia, which has been chairing the organisation in 2015.

“I very much look forward to the day when Kosovo will be there as well, as a full and equal [OSCE] member,” Kerry said.