Serbia Threatens to Quit Kosovo Talks over Arrests

Marko Djuric told a press conference on Tuesday that unless Kosovo releases five Serbs arrested on Tuesday in the Kosovo town of Gnjilan/Gjilan by the evening, Belgrade will halt its talks with Pristina "for a long time".

"Unless they are released by tonight, our message is that there will be no dialogue and there will not be for a long time. And that is President Aleksandar Vucic's message and a message we gave to the representatives of the European Union," Djuric said.

UPDATE

Kosovo Releases Arrested Serbs After Belgrade's Pressure

Kosovo authorities released five Serbs on Tuesday who were detained earlier the same day, after Belgrade stated it will halt EU-mediated talks with Pristina over the arrests.

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Kosovo police arrested the five Serbs earlier on Tuesday, alleging they were "involved in activities against the constitutional order and security of the Republic of Kosovo".

Following Djuric's statement, Kadri Veseli, Kosovo's parliamentary speaker and head of ruling the Democratic Party of Kosovo, PDK, said Kosovo would remain dedicated to the dialogue despite this.

"Kosovo institutions are always ready for dialogue and good neighbourly relations," Veseli said.

He added: "Every provocation from Serbia that damages this process does not contribute to the interest of both countries, which aim to normalize relations and achieve stability and peace in the Balkans."

Pristina denied that the arrested men were members of the Kosovo Security Forces, as some Serbian media have reported.

Djuric said that Kosovo police arrested Radovan Stojkovic, the head of Serbia's Kosovo-Pomoravlje district, Jovan Denic, director of the local office of Serbian...