Kosovo Steps Up Security After Explosion at Key Canal
PRISTINA: Kosovo stepped up security measures around "critical" infrastructure today after an explosion at a key canal feeding two of its main power plants, as neighboring Serbia rejected accusations it had staged the blast.
The explosion occurred yesterday near the town of Zubin Potok in a Serb-dominated area in Kosovo’s troubled north, damaging the canal supplying water to cooling systems at two coal-fired power plants that generate most of Kosovo’s electricity.
Criminal and Terrorist Attack
Prime Minister Albin Kurti called a security meeting late yesterday, saying: "This is a criminal and terrorist attack aimed at damaging our critical infrastructure."
"The attack was carried out by professionals. We believe it comes from gangs directed by Serbia," he added without providing any evidence.
Serbia Rejects Accusations
Serbia slapped back today condemning the attack, while calling the accusation "premature" and "baseless".
"Such destructive actions are unacceptable and threaten the fragile stability we are striving to maintain," Serbian foreign minister Marko Djuric said on X.
"Serbia unequivocally demands responsibility for the perpetrators of this reckless attack," he added, while suggesting the Kosovar "regime" could be behind the blast and calling for an internationally-led investigation.
International Reactions
The United States strongly condemned the "attack on critical infrastructure in Kosovo", the US embassy in Pristina said in a statement on Facebook.
"We are monitoring the situation closely … and have offered our full support to the government of Kosovo to ensure that those responsible for this criminal attack are identified and held accountable."
The European Union’s ambassador to Kosovo, Aivo Orav, also condemned the attack while calling for an investigation.
"I have already offered EU’s help to Kosovo’s authorities. The incident needs to be investigated and those responsible brought to justice," he said on X.
Background and Context
Animosity between ethnic Albanian-majority Kosovo and Serbia has persisted since the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge.
Conclusion
The recent explosion at the Iber-Lepenc Canal highlights the ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, with both sides trading accusations and counter-accusations. The international community has condemned the attack and called for an investigation, while the Kosovar government has stepped up security measures to protect its critical infrastructure.
FAQs
- What was the nature of the explosion at the Iber-Lepenc Canal?
The explosion was a significant one, damaging the canal and causing water to leak heavily from one side. - Who is responsible for the explosion?
Kosovo’s government has accused Serbia of orchestrating the attack, while Serbia has rejected these accusations and called for an internationally-led investigation. - How has the international community reacted to the attack?
The United States and the European Union have condemned the attack, while calling for an investigation and the identification and prosecution of those responsible. - What is the background to the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia?
The tensions between Kosovo and Serbia date back to the end of the war between Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian insurgents in the late 1990s, with Kosovo declaring independence in 2008, a move that Serbia has refused to acknowledge.