OSCE Mission concerned with recent security incidents affecting Kosovo Serb community in eastern Kosovo

Prishtinë/Priština, 24 February 2012 – The Head of the OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Ambassador Werner Almhofer, expressed today his concern over recent security incidents affecting the Kosovo Serb community in the Gjilan/Gnjilane region, eastern Kosovo.

Earlier this week, on 20 February, a house belonging to a Kosovo Serb family in Gjilan/Gnjilane town centre was set on fire for the second time in the past seven months, while two houses belonging to Kosovo Serbs in Cërnicë/Cernica village were set on fire in January. All three properties were uninhabited.

“These cases of arson are cause for concern,” Almhofer said. “We welcome the public condemnation of the incidents by the municipal authorities and call on the police to conduct thorough investigations into these and all other incidents affecting communities in Kosovo and bring the perpetrators to justice. We also call on the municipal authorities to step up efforts to reach out to communities and address their concerns.”

The OSCE Mission in Kosovo is mandated with human and communities’ rights protection and promotion.