Kosovo Minister for Communities and Return Dalibor Jevtic conveyed concerns to the Ambassador of the OSCE in Kosovo, Jean-Claude Schlumberger, over the recent incidents in returnee communities in Kosovo, especially those in Gorazdevac, Srbobran, Berkovo and the last one in the village of Donji Petric in Klina/Kline municipality. “If we want to move forward towards a better future and coexistence, we need to prevent incidents because only in this way Kosovo can be a safe place for all, regardless of any affiliation. Damaging returnee areas is a shameful act, and it is especially shameful to attack and intimidate elderly and disabled people in these places,” said Minister Jevtic.
Jevtic also expressed great concern about the appearance of Islamic radicalism in Kosovo. He conveyed to his interlocutor that the Serbian Orthodox Church and the returnees are concerned about it, stressing that the spread of such ideas should be stopped because they are dangerous for the whole of Kosovo. “I am particularly worried about the incident in Berkovo and the arrest of the group that is suspected to be associated with Islamic radicalism,” said Jevtic.
Ambassador Schlumberger said that OSCE mission will continue to support the process of returns within the framework of its mandate. In agreement with Minister Jevtic, he also expressed his concern about the surfacing Islamic radicalism in Kosovo and stressed that it is necessary for relevant institutions to use all means to stop the spread of this phenomenon, because, as he said, “we are witnessing the evil which Islamic radicalism brings to the whole world.”
