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High tensions on the border between Serbia and Kosovo, NATO says it is ready to intervene

2022-07-31T22:40:32.314Z


In a press release published this Sunday evening, the Alliance evokes a "tense" situation in the towns located in the north of Kosovo. We ignore


Tension seems to have risen a notch on the border between Serbia and Kosovo.

Kosovo police said on Sunday they came under fire in the north of the country where barricades were erected on roads leading into Serbia in protest against the government's border policy.

The shots did not cause any injuries, police said in a statement.

Both crossings were closed to traffic.

On Sunday evening, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs massed trucks, tankers and other heavy vehicles on the roads leading to the Jarinje and Brnjak crossings, AFP reported.

A crowd then settled around the barricades, with the stated intention of spending the night there.

Since Monday, anyone entering Kosovo with a Serbian identity card will have to replace it with a temporary document during their stay in the country, according to a decision by the Pristina government.

In addition, Kosovo Serbs whose vehicles bear registration plates issued in Serbia will have to replace them with Republic of Kosovo plates within two months.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti clarified on Sunday that it was a measure of reciprocity, insofar as Serbia - which does not recognize the independence of its former province with an Albanian majority proclaimed in 2008 - demands the same from Kosovars entering its territory.

“The situation is changing this evening, but it is possible that Serbia has raised the stakes in the context of a geopolitical action coordinated with Russia”, evokes for his part a journalist from the BBC.

Tensions are very high currently between Serbia and Kosovo, with reports of barricades going up in Serbian areas of the province and clashes.

It's an evolving situation tonight but it's possible that Serbia has upped the ante as part of a geopolitical move coordinated with Russia

— Mark Urban (@MarkUrban01) July 31, 2022

The Serbs of Kosovo do not recognize the authority of Pristina, nor the independence of Kosovo, and remain loyal to Belgrade on which they depend financially.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said in an address to the nation on Sunday that the situation in Kosovo had "never been more complex" for Serbia and the Serbs living there.

"The atmosphere has been boiling," he continued, adding that "Serbia will win" if the Serbs are attacked.

For his part, Albin Kurti accused Mr. Vucic of triggering "trouble"

NATO is “preparing to intervene”

These elements are taken very seriously by NATO countries.

In a press release issued late this Sunday evening, the mission responsible for establishing peace and stability in the region since 1999 said it was ready to intervene if necessary on the mandate of the United Nations Security Council.

pic.twitter.com/LK1MB2cSoJ

— @NATO - KFOR (@NATO_KFOR) July 31, 2022

The Alliance, the statement continued, “continues to fully support the normalization process between Pristina and Belgrade” and “calls on all parties to continue negotiations”.

Source: leparis

All news articles on 2022-07-31

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