The tensions between Serbia and Kosovo are once again threatening to slide into wide-scale violence after this weekend Belgrade announced its desire to send at least 1,000 soldiers to the north of the autonomous region in order to protect the local Serbs.
The latest tension is a continuation of the sensitive struggle over a symbolic issue: who is allowed to issue identification plates for cars.
A few months ago, the authorities in Kosovo announced that they would not recognize cars with identification plates that were issued in Serbia before Kosovo received autonomy, that is, those that were issued until the end of the 1990s.
This issue was partially resolved following a compromise agreement reached recently, in which Kosovo announced that it would not fine people with old identification plates, and Serbia agreed not to issue special plates for these vehicles.
But at the end of the week the escalation raised its head again after the local police significantly increased their presence in northern Kosovo ahead of the municipal elections, which the Serbs are boycotting because they claim it is a step designed to bring the Albanians to dominance at their expense.
As a result of the large deployment of police forces, Serbia announced that it considers the move a violation of the status quo and the agreements that regulate relations with Kosovo.
At the same time, following the arrest of a Serbian police officer in Kosovo, Serbian residents set up makeshift roadblocks at several border crossings and reported violent incidents, including shooting at local police forces in Kosovo on the night between Saturday and Sunday
To calm the spirits, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Korti announced the postponement of the municipal elections.
The Serbs' announcement of an intention to send about 1000 troops is not expected to materialize.
This is because the dispatch of military forces to Kosovo requires the approval of NATO, which has been responsible for maintaining peace in the region for more than 20 years as part of the agreement - which is anchored in the security proposal - upon the end of the fighting in the region. Within the framework of that agreement, Kosovo received an almost independent status.
However, Serbia's very announcement shows how explosive the situation is and may escalate at any moment, and already in the night between Saturday and Sunday, as mentioned, a series of unusual incidents took place, including shooting at the local police forces and the peacekeeping forces of the European countries.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic clarified on Sunday that the establishment of the barriers by the local population is part of self-defense against the local forces, who are overwhelmingly of Albanian origin.
"There is no surrender and there will be no surrender," Vucic clarified.
According to the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Belgrade is trying to destabilize the region, which declared independence more than a decade ago but almost no country recognizes this independence.
According to Kurti, Serbs are trying to drag the peace process to the Security Council and expropriate it from the hands of the European Union, apparently with the aim of having Russia and China force a favorable settlement with Belgrade.
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us