Kosovo warned that relations with Macedonia will suffer over the case of former UCK/KLA fighter Tomor Morina, who was arrested by Macedonian police on war crimes charges brought against him by Serbia.

Morina’s extradition would violate his human rights and is completely illegal and unacceptable. It mustn’t happen, because it would not only damage his rights but also the relations between the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of “North” Macedonia. We would not want such events to possibly damage our ties, said Kosovan Ambassador Gerg Dedaj.

Serbian Interior Minister Nebojsa Stefanovik, on the other hand, said that Serbia expects that Prime Minister Zoran Zaev will hand Morina over for trial for the war crimes he perpetrated against Serbian civilians in 1999. Serbia used Interpol to ensure that Morina is arrested.

Zaev said that his Government will respect international law and that can only mean that Morina will be extradited to Serbia. We await that Zaev’s words become reality, Stefanovik told the B92 station.

The court rejected a request from Deputy Prime Minister Bujar Osmani and Deputy Interior Minister Agim Nuhiu to visit Morina in prison because they are not close family members. Both DUI party officials have called on the court to release Morina.