Pristina, 3 August 2024 (MIA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Kosovo said it had issued a protest note to North Macedonia on Friday, demanding an urgent and complete clarification of Thursday's incident at the Skopje Airport involving the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, MIA’s Pristina correspondent reports.

In a press release, the Kosovan Ministry said President Osmani had faced “inappropriate and illegal treatment” by the security at the Skopje Airport.

“Minister [Donika] Gërvalla has delivered a protest note to the authorities in North Macedonia demanding an urgent and complete clarification of the incident. At the same time, the Macedonian authorities have been asked to take urgent measures to clear up the case and make sure that such events aren't repeated in the future,” the Ministry said.

According to the press release, Gërvalla met with North Macedonia’s Ambassador to Kosovo on Thursday evening as well as on Friday to demand clarification for the event.

“Minister Gërvalla also met with the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Arben Fetai, with whom they discussed the incident and the need to take swift institutional action. The Minster also received a phone call this afternoon from her Macedonian counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Timcho Mucunski, during which she expressed the concern of Kosovo’s institutions over yesterday’s incident,” the press release said.

In a press release issued Thursday evening, the Office of the President of Kosovo said the security at the Skopje Airport tried to take away President Osmani’s phone on Thursday, adding that the security even tried to physically push the Kosovan President.

The Office also issued a press release Friday expressing its “indignation” over the “unacceptable statements of the Interior Ministry of North Macedonia,” as well as the “propaganda being developed against the Republic of Kosovo”. 

Photo: MIA Archive