A major aqueduct in Kosovo was damaged by an explosion on the evening of Friday 29 November, provoking new tensions with Serbia, against a backdrop of growing tension in the region.
In the wake of the explosion, Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, did not hesitate to accuse Belgrade, stating that Serbia had “both the interest and the capacity to carry out such attacks”.
Belgrade, for its part, retorted by describing the accusation as “unfounded”. On Sunday 1 December, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, declared that “[Serbia had] nothing to do with this. As a serious country, we have not accused anyone. We have not said, and I will not say today, that Kurti directly ordered this attack”, he added.
The European Union issued a statement on Saturday 30 November condemning “in the strongest possible terms the terrorist attack committed on Friday. (...) It is a despicable act of sabotage on Kosovo’s critical civilian infrastructure”.
The EU says it will “closely follow” the situation, and a meeting between the EU’s new High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, and the leaders of the two countries will be held in Brussels on Tuesday 3 December.
The two countries have been engaged for over 10 years in a dialogue under the aegis of the EU (see EUROPE 13483/7) aimed at normalising their relations. Talks have recently stalled, largely due to strained relations between Mr Kurti and Mr Vučić. (Original version in French by Isalia Stieffatre)