KFOR, the international NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, carried out several operations to remove the remaining blockades in north Kosovo following weeks of tensions with neighbouring Serbia.
The situation in the north of Kosovo has deteriorated in the last month over the planned ban on Serbia-issued license plates, the mass resignation of ethnic Serbs from Kosovo institutions, planned but then postponed elections to replace them, and the arrest of a Serb policeman over allegations he attacked central electoral commission premises. He was since put under house arrest, significantly reducing tensions.
On 29 December, following the intervention of key international stakeholders, Serbs started removing the blockades, and some of the border crossings closed by the action reopened.
“The #KFOR mission is conducting engineering operations in the north of Kosovo to remove some vehicles blocked on the road and to restore freedom of movement in accordance with its #UN mandate,” the announcement read.
Around 50,000 Serbs living in northern Kosovo refuse to recognise the government in Pristina or the status of Kosovo as a separate country. They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government.
Albanian-majority Kosovo declared independence with the backing of the West following a 1998-99 war in which NATO intervened to protect ethnic Albanian citizens.
Germany welcomed the removal of the barricades and the easing of tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.
“This is a good sign that the two sides have come closer to each other and that the Serbian minority in the north of Kosovo has removed the barricades,” said the government’s deputy spokesperson, Christiane Hoffmann.
“The priority now is that the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo continues to be supported. The German government is doing this very actively,” she added.
However, neither the government nor the Foreign Ministry has commented on the request of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, to strengthen NATO’s presence in Kosovo.
“A significant increase in NATO soldiers and military equipment in our country would improve security and peace in Kosovo and the entire Western Balkan region,” Kurti told the Die Welt.
The NATO-led defence force, KFOR, has been tasked with ensuring security throughout Kosovo since 1999. It currently has almost 3,800 members, including about 70 German soldiers.
Meanwhile, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic told local media that another country is set to revoke its recognition of Kosovo. He warned that Serbia will continue its diplomatic and political struggle “regarding the protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Serbia.”
(Alice Taylor | Exit.al)
Source: euractiv.com
