EU slams Kosovo for closing Serbian post office branches

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - The European Union slammed Kosovo on Monday for closing Serbian post office branches in the northern part of the country, where mostly ethnic Serbs live.

EU spokesperson Peter Stano described the move as a "unilateral step and a violation of agreements."

"The European Union considers today's closure of nine branches of the Post of Serbia in the north of Kosovo by the Kosovo authorities as a unilateral and uncoordinated action which violates the agreements reached under the dialogue facilitated by the EU,'' said Stano in a statement.

Kosovo police conducted operations at nine facilities of the Post of Serbia in four municipalities in the north of Kosovo.

“Unilateral and uncoordinated actions cannot provide a solution to this or any other issue related to the normalization process between Kosovo and Serbia. The closure of existing services to Kosovo Serbs, without a new agreement agreed in advance, will negatively affect their daily lives and the living conditions for this community.

“We call on the Government of Kosovo to reconsider its decision and find a negotiated solution to this issue within the dialogue facilitated by the EU,'' Stano added.

The US issued a statement condemning the Kosovo government following the closure of Serbian post offices in the north.

"Kosovo's uncoordinated actions put Kosovan citizens and NATO's peacekeeping mission in Kosovo (KFOR) soldiers at greater risk, unnecessarily escalate regional tensions, and undermine Kosovo's reputation as a reliable international partner,'' said the US Embassy in the capital Pristina.

The US urged the government to cease further unilateral actions.

''We urge the government of Kosovo to cease any further unilateral actions and to return to constructive engagement in the EU-facilitated Dialogue to resolve issues related to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia,'' said the embassy.

A similar action was carried out by Kosovo authorities less than three months ago, after which all financial institutions of the Republic of Serbia in Kosovo were closed.

Kosovo declared its unilateral independence from Serbia on Feb. 17, 2008, but Serbia still sees Kosovo as its "own territory."