Blinken criticized the government of Kosovo, Kurti's reaction comes immediately

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, told the British daily Guardian on Tuesday that Monday was very difficult, and that "we are lucky that no life was lost". He referred to the clashes between members of the NATO mission in Kosovo, KFOR, with the Serbian protestors in Zveçan, who have opposed the entry of the new Albanian mayors in the municipalities inhabited by Serbian majority - Zveçan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok - through the municipal buildings.

Kurti blamed the violence in the north on what he called "fascist gangs" led by the Government of Serbia. The violence has been condemned by NATO and the international factor, while the United States has asked the Government of Kosovo to take steps to reduce tensions in the north. On Friday, the American Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, said that the decision of the Government of Kosovo, to enter the municipal buildings in the north with force, was taken "against the advice" of the United States and European partners, and which " has unnecessarily escalated tensions". Kurti expressed his dissatisfaction with this statement.

"I think that, not only is it unfair and wrong and also hurtful, but at the same time it is very naive," Kurti told the Guardian, in a telephone interview.

"Maybe Secretary Blinken will clear this up some day, but it definitely hasn't been helpful."
From that statement, Kurti said that he spoke with the American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar. He said that Escobar asked the Kosovo authorities to send the mayors to other facilities, or even to work from home - a request that he refused.

"We cannot have presidents with Zoom (online meeting platform), we are a democratic republic. A democratic republic cannot surrender to the fascist militia", he added.
The American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said on Tuesday, in a conversation with journalists, that the Government of Kosovo has not coordinated with the United States for the actions undertaken in the north and, therefore, has suffered the first consequence: "the exercises Defender Europe 2023 have come to an end" for him./REL