Sat, Feb 11 2012

Germany criticises Kosovo but will not cut aid

Tue, Dec 02 2008 13:33 CET

byBalkanInsight.com

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The German government has criticised Kosovo's authorities for detaining three of its secret agents in connection with a bombing, but says it will not cut aid to Pristina.

The release of three agents of German intelligence service, the BND, who were suspected of being behind a bomb attack on a European Union building in Kosovo's capital, was regarded by Germany as "strongly overdue."

German weekly Welt am Sonntag reported that Kosovo officials only released the three men after German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened Prime Minister Hashim Thaci with aid cuts.

Germany is the second largest financial supporter of Kosovo, offering 100 million euro in aid over the next two years, second only to the United States.

A German government spokesperson, Thomas Steg, said that Germany was not "reducing aid in reprisal," but instead would continue to support stability in Kosovo and the region. But the Berlin official added that "it is common to review aid after a certain period."

Three German citizens, who were confirmed to be secret agents of the BND, aged between 41 and 47, were arrested on November 17. They denied the charges of terrorism which were raised by the Pristina district prosecutor.

The three men were released after their lawyers filed a complaint, saying that there was no sustainable evidence that would prove their involvement in the bomb attack.

Read more: Blast at EU's office in Kosovo; Kosovo stunned by alleged German role in blast

Source: Balkan Insight

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