Hungarian premier urges Serbia to release Kosovo police officers

BELGRADE, Serbia 

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban Tuesday called on Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to return detained Kosovo police officers. 

“We follow the events in Kosovo very closely and see what is being done to the Serbs. I respectfully ask you, President, dear Aleksandar (Vucic), to follow Hungary’s recommendation and return those three Albanians to Kosovo,” said Orban at a joint press conference after a Hungary-Serbia Strategic Cooperation Council meeting in Serbia’s northern Palic town.

Vucic together with Prime Minister Ana Brnabic met with Orban and Hungarian President Katalin Novak.

Serbia detained three people identified as members of Kosovo police last Wednesday on grounds they were “planning an action in Serbia.”

Vucic said this is a job for the competent authorities and that they will take every request of Orban into consideration.

“’Viktor (Orban) told me last night that there is a lot of pressure on Serbia and that they can’t wait to take measures against our country. Thank you for your concern, my dear friend, and I will consider your every advice or request with the utmost care and kindness,” said Vucic.

According to Vucic, important projects were agreed upon at the meeting, which will not only make a long-term contribution to the growth and development of Serbia and of Hungary but will also ensure security for the citizens of both countries in the future.

“Today we open another chapter in our cooperation and write a new historic page in relations between the two countries. Long live the friendship between Serbia and Hungary,” said Vucic on social media.

According to the Serbian Interior Ministry the held individuals were equipped with automatic weapons in full combat gear with GPS devices, maps, and other equipment before they were detained by Serbian Police Special Anti-Terrorism Units.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on social media that police officers were kidnapped by Serbia, demanding the immediate release of the officers and urging international actors to condemn the operation.

Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said Serbian forces had entered Kosovo’s territory.

Kosovo police were arrested “deep in the territory of central Serbia,” according to Petar Petkovic, the director of Serbia’s Office for Kosovo.

Tensions have risen in Kosovo following the election of ethnic Albanian mayors in four Serb-dominated districts in the north last month.

Ethnic Serbs have been protesting the election of the mayors since late May.

At least 30 KFOR soldiers were injured on May 29 in fighting with Serbs who were protesting and attempting to prevent the newly-elected mayor of Zvecan municipality from entering Town Hall to take the oath of office and begin official responsibilities.

The Kosovo Force, or KFOR, is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo

More than 53 civilians were also injured by shock bombs and tear gas, according to hospital sources.

Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news stories offered to subscribers in the AA News Broadcasting System (HAS), and in summarized form. Please contact us for subscription options.