PRISTINA, Kosovo, Jan. 17 (UPI) -- The Serbian and U.S. governments condemned the killing of Kosovo politician and ethnic Serb Dimitrije Janicijevic.
The former mayoral candidate and newly elected municipal assembly member in Mitrovica North was killed Wednesday, a release from the U.S. State Department said.
"We extend our condolences to the Janicijevic family and call on Kosovo's authorities to pursue a thorough, expeditious investigation and to bring those responsible to justice," the release said.
"The United States underscores its enduring support for both Kosovo and Serbia in fully implementing the EU-facilitated April 19 agreement on normalization of relations -- including establishing legitimate, democratic, and effective institutions and strengthening rule of law in northern Kosovo -- in order to grant the people living there a better future. Violence and intimidation have no place in the political process and only hinder these aspirations," the release continued.
Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic said the slaying was an "attempt to instill more fear into the Serb community in Kosovo."
"This attack on the Serbs living in Kosovo, like all the previous attacks in earlier years will not deter Serbia from creating the conditions needed for a safe life of all the citizens in this part of its territory as well," he said.
