Escobar: There were financial, organizational links between Serbia, Banjska attackers

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RFE
15. mar. 2024. 22:00
eskobar
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U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said Washington believes that there were some financial and organizational links between Serbia and the September 2023 attack in Banjska, Kosovo, and that Milan Radoicic must be arrested and charged with whatever crimes he can be charged with in Serbia.

In an interview with Radio Free Europe (RFE), Escobar presented America’s positions on the events in Banjska regarding Milan Radoicic.

Unacceptable that Radoicic is still a free man


RFE: How do you comment the fact that Radoicic is still free?

Escobar: I think it’s unacceptable. And we have said, both in public and in private, that he must be brought to justice. That he is an international fugitive, under American sanctions, and there is no place for him as a free man.

RFE: Does the US see any links between this attack and Serbia as a state?

Escobar: We do think that there were some financial and some organizational links, but we are investigating that fully. But, in terms of the crime that was committed, I think the investigation was done competently by the Kosovo Police. We didn’t need to do an investigation, we had intelligence, and the results of the investigation track very closely with what we understand. So, we are not asking Serbia for an investigation on September 24th, we are asking for accountability.

RFE: If you confirm the results of this investigation, that Serbia was behind it, will you take any measures against Serbia?

Escobar: I can’t comment on that right now.

RFE: How do you also comment on the fact that there is still no indictment against Radoicic, neither in Kosovo nor in Serbia?

Escobar: I don’t know about Kosovo, but the investigation is going on, it’s going on competently. In Serbia we have said that he must be arrested and must be charged with whatever crimes he can be charged with in Serbia, and I know that there is an Interpol warrant out for him as well.

RFE: How long will you wait for Serbia to do so?

Escobar: Let me comment on that later, because we are having mini discussions with Serbia. But they know our position.

RFE: Will the US pressure Serbia to extradite Radoicic to Kosovo in order for him to face justice in Kosovo?

Escobar: Again, that’s very early, but I can tell you what we are saying in public about Radoicic and the need for accountability, we are saying in private.

RFE: Radoicic is not only a free man, but he also seems to maintain close ties with Serbian officials, such as Serbian Ambassador to US Marko Djuric, you have probably seen the picture that has been circulating in social media. What is your comment on that?

Escobar: My comment is the same one – Radoicic is a person who orchestrated the attack on September 24th, he is an international fugitive, he is under American sanctions, and there is no room for him in the political space.

RFE: How do you comment Djuric’s defense on Twitter, or X, after that?

Escobar: Look, I’m not going to comment on that. I’m just going comment on the fact that everyone knows our position. Including people in the Government of Serbia.

We note that one Kosovo police officer and three Serbs were killed in the armed clashes between Kosovo Serbs and the Kosovo Police in Banjska in September 2023. Milan Radoicic confessed that he had organized the group in Banjska, and accepted responsibility for the events. He was detained, questioned, taken into 48-hour custody and then released. He is suspected of a number of crimes. Under a court decision, Radoicic is banned from going to Kosovo and is required to report to the local police station twice a month. His Serbian passport has been temporarily confiscated, and he has been warned that he could be placed in detention if he violates any of the court’s orders.

Interpol has issued a warrant for the arrest of Radoicic and another 11 people in connection with the September 24, 2003 events in Banjska, northern Kosovo.

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