Expert Shala: September 16 calls for vigilance, but does not necessarily mean unrest

September 16 should be viewed as a sensitive moment, but not as a development that will automatically be followed by unrest, security expert Drizan Shala says. He urges citizens not to fall victim to provocations and disinformation, emphasizing that responsibility for law and order and security in Kosovo lies with its institutions.

According to Shala, concerns about the possibility of unrest should be addressed calmly and in line with the institutions’ actual capabilities. He believes Kosovo is now better prepared to respond to any possible scenario on September 16 and in the days that follow.

“I believe that concern about the possibility of unrest should be viewed calmly and based on the actual capabilities of Kosovo’s institutions. Kosovo now has its own security institutions and is in a much more favorable position to deal with any scenario that may arise on September 16 and in the days ahead.

According to him, the experience of citizens and institutions in dealing with high-risk situations is an important advantage. As an example, he cites the 2023 terrorist attack, which required an institutional response and the management of an extremely sensitive security situation.

Shala continued by saying that this case had helped strengthen prevention, coordination and response capabilities. “Such experiences have increased our capacities for prevention, coordination and response,” he said.

The expert explains that security measures are not drawn up on an improvised basis, but are based on protocols and risk assessments. For this reason, institutions must also be prepared for the most likely scenarios, while in such cases it is more reasonable to adopt a higher level of measures than to minimize a potential threat.

“As far as security is concerned, measures are not improvised and are not based solely on what might happen. They are предусмотрed on the basis of protocols and risk assessments. In such a situation, it is better for institutions to apply a higher level of measures than to underestimate a potential threat.

Based on my assessment, the Kosovo Police and other relevant institutions already have the possible scenarios and response mechanisms for each situation that may arise on the table. This does not mean that panic should be created among citizens, but rather that calm and trust in the institutions should be maintained,” he further stated.

Shala emphasizes that citizens should remain calm, while institutions should act with vigilance. He underscores that avoiding provocations, disinformation and any attempt to heighten tensions is important for maintaining security.

“Therefore, September 16 should be treated as a sensitive moment, but not as a date that automatically means unrest. Institutions must remain vigilant, while citizens should avoid any provocation, disinformation or attempt to heighten tensions.

The greatest security guarantee for Kosovo today is precisely the fact that responsibility for law and order and security lies with its institutions,” he concluded in comments to “Bota sot”.