Serbia halts Kosovo talks after arrest of senior official
Serbia has suspended its normalization dialogue with Kosovo following the arrest of Igor Popovic, deputy director of the Serbian government’s Office for Kosovo, officials announced Monday.
Popovic was detained on July 18 at the Brnjak border crossing while leaving Kosovo. A Pristina court ordered 30 days of detention on charges of “inciting hatred and intolerance” for referring to the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) as a “terrorist organization” during a memorial event earlier this month.
Petar Petkovic, director of the Serbian Office for Kosovo, condemned the arrest as politically motivated and an attempt to “humiliate Serbs.” He declared that Serbia would not resume EU-mediated dialogue with Pristina until Popovic is released.
President Aleksandar Vucic also condemned the move, accusing Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti of deliberately provoking tensions. “Kurti wants to spark conflict in the Western Balkans,” Vucic said, warning of “unforeseeable consequences.”
Serbia has informed international partners, including the EU, of its decision to pause the normalization process.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti defended the arrest, saying it was lawful and based on international standards. He accused Serbia of engaging in a “destabilization campaign” and urged NATO and the EU to take action.
“This rhetoric is a direct threat to peace in the Balkans,” Kurti said, adding that the KLA remains a “sacred value” to the Kosovan people.
The German Embassy in Kosovo said it is closely following the case, while the OSCE called for a transparent legal process.
Popovic, a key figure in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, now faces trial over statements Serbian officials say reflect historical fact.
