belgrade - with a foot on the north and an open hand ... - Koha Ditore

Coordinator’s office for the Strategy of North
this event is not new in the north 1 . Another truth is that the community there was feeling
attacked, that again seems not to be new and lastly all three police forces might have
interfered in a resultant manner and probably not in a comprehensive one. This was probably
not a novelty as well. But, it seems that in spite of the interpretation from kosovar media,
MUP’s response was neither more professional nor the only one to establish order and peace.
MUP does not risk getting publicly involved in such cases, especially not in an obvious
manner and on uniform. Usually, it tries to be involved through other institutions. 2 Another
thing that was not mentioned in media was the fact that in the past EULEX special units, in
similar cases intervened earlier and even violence and guns were used against them in the
north. But, this time as head of FPU, EULEX quick intervening units were not led by French,
who seems like decided to abandon their compatriot general de Marnihiac and his mission,
and in their place the command took over Romanians who probably had dilemmas how to
intervene in the Saint George clash. Romanians as leaders of the special European forces in
Kosovo are note an easy news, not only because they belong to one of the five EU countries
who did not recognize Kosovo, but also because as part of previous UNMIK police they took
part in the action against protests of Vetvendosje that caused the death of two participants.
And lastly, for the sake of the truth, Kosovo Police in north had a small number of staff that
day, due to the leave they requested in order to celebrate, and moreover it seems that the
institution does not own an operational plan for emergency cases. 3 Moreover, Kosovo Police
from Police Station North in Mitrovica, due to a limited officers on duty, were not able and
had no opportunity to control the situation on the field, and the only assistance they requested
was from EULEX special units, surpassing their colleagues from Police Station in Zvecan
and Mitrovica (south) who are located closer.
The above case is very illustrative for all who build perceptions from a distance regarding
North of Kosovo. It seems like the truth is that in the north there is no law and order; Kosovo
police operates but is not plenipotentiary. It lacks Court functioning, just like citizens who are
confused between the feeling of political-ethnic loyalty and the need for a dignifying life <strong>with</strong>
rule of law and economic welfare. Besides, it is true that EULEX managed to expand in the
north <strong>with</strong> delay and <strong>with</strong> a limiting mandate of Monitoring, but it is probably the only force
remaining in the north, but at the same time not annoying Belgrade and by balancing between
22 countries that recognized Kosovo and the 5 ones that did not. All of this would be less
complex if the other international stakeholders were not there <strong>with</strong> different roles and
approaches and not always <strong>with</strong> the same strategy and position coordinated, which operate
separately by several legislative basis that provide their mandate and presence in north.
1 Public fight between gangs of Bergani against Zvecani was also registered the previous year
2 In some cases when Belgrade pretnded to make arrests, either of criminels pursued by Serbia as the case of
Vulovic brothers from Leposavic, or in different situations did this through the others, such as Kosovo Police or
EULEX, or by bringing them somehow in the territory of Serbia. The illustrative case was also the intervention
in monasteries where bishop Artemije was residing, which was developed as an action by Kosovo Police, after
the refusing of international stakeholders. In this manner, legal uniforms in north were used as a legitim filter for
operative action. This duality and flexibility of commanding chain characterized north more then the open use of
MUP uniform
3 According to members of Kosovo Police in Mitrovica
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