Kosovo

Three decades after the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia, the ethnic hostilities that ignited the conflict linger on. Kosovo declared its independence from ...

In turn, the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo have used the war in Ukraine to intensify their rhetoric. While the EU remains the key investor in both nations, progress in their efforts to join the bloc has been slow. Kosovo’s Kurti has accused Serbia of serving Russian interests, while Serbia’s Vucuc has said Kosovo officials are trying to exploit alarm over Ukraine for their own purposes. Protests erupted in Kosovo in 1981 following the death of Yugoslavia’s long-ruling Communist dictator Josip Broz Tito. In August, authorities sought to force the minority Serbs to switch to car plates and personal documents issued by the Kosovar rather than the Serbian government. Three decades after the bloody breakup of Yugoslavia, the ethnic hostilities that ignited the conflict linger on.

Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla accused Belgrade of supporting Serbian protesters as a means to destabilise Kosovo.

They see Belgrade as their capital and want to keep their Serbian licence plates. [car licence plates](/news/2022/11/22/eu-raises-alarm-over-escalating-serbia-kosovo-car-plates-dispute). Their protests follow earlier unrest over the issue of

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Kosovo closed its biggest border crossing on Wednesday after protesters blocked it on the Serbian side to support their ethnic kin in Kosovo in refusing to ...

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. 10, Serbs in northern Kosovo have exchanged fire with police and erected more than 10 roadblocks in and around Mitrovica. But KFOR has no authority to act on Serbian soil. or go through North Macedonia," Kosovo's Foreign Ministry said on its Facebook page, announcing closure of the Merdare crossing. The obstruction is preventing thousands of Kosovars who work elsewhere in Europe from returning home for holidays. 10, only three entry points between the two countries remain open.

The new barriers, made of heavily laden trucks, were put up overnight in Mitrovica, a northern Kosovo town divided between Kosovo Serbs and ethnic ...

Until now, barricades had mainly been set on roads leading to the Kosovo-Serbia border. Kosovo remains a potential flashpoint in the Balkans, years after the 1998-99 Kosovo War, which ended with a NATO intervention pushing Serbian troops out of the former Serbian province. - Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo are protesting the arrest of a former Kosovo Serb policeman by erecting barricades in the street

Pristina closure of the Merdare crossing on Kosovo's eastern border comes as tensions with its Balkans neighbour spiral.

“And, of course, we support Belgrade in the actions that are being taken.” They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. Germany’s government also voiced alarm over the ongoing tensions. On Tuesday, two more roadblocks were erected in the north. But KFOR has no authority to act on Serbian soil. NATO’s mission in Kosovo said on Wednesday that it supported dialogue between all parties to defuse tensions in the north of the country.

Kosovo has closed its biggest border crossing with Serbia after protesters blocked it on the Serbian side to...

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. Late on Tuesday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said Serbia was continuing to fight peace and seek a compromise, inspected the troops close to the border. Police did not say if it was related to the recent tensions. "Serbia is a sovereign country and it is absolutely wrong to look for Russia's destructive influence here," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Their action followed the arrest of a former Serb policeman accused of assaulting serving police officers. Kosovan Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said on Tuesday that Serbia, under the influence of Russia, was aiming to destabilise Kosovo.

Protesting Serbs in the ethnically divided city of Mitrovica in northern Kosovo erected new barricades on Tuesday, hours after Serbia said it had put its ...

[NATO](https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/28/world/nato-patrols-kosovo-serbia-border-intl/index.html) has about 3,700 troops stationed in Kosovo to maintain the peace. Kosovo has for years wanted the approximately 50,000 Serbs in the north to switch their Serbian car license plates to ones issued by Pristina, as part of the government’s desire to assert authority over its territory. The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX), which arrived in 2008, still has around 200 special police officers there. Serbs in Kosovo want to create an association of majority-Serb municipalities that would operate with greater autonomy. Serbia, however, still considers Kosovo to be an integral part of its territory and rejects suggestions it is whipping up tensions and conflict within its neighbor’s borders. Ethnic Serbs, who do not recognise the Pristina government or Kosovan state institutions, account for 5% of Kosovo’s 1.8 million people, with ethnic Albanians making up about 90%.

Belgrade puts troops on high alert as ethnic Serbs resist Pristina's authority.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic put his nation's military on high alert on Monday to respond if violence erupts between neigboring Kosovo's Serb minority and ...

Kosovo has closed its biggest border crossing with Serbia after protesters blocked it on the Serbian side to...

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. Late on Tuesday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, who said Serbia was continuing to fight peace and seek a compromise, inspected the troops close to the border. Police did not say if it was related to the recent tensions. "Serbia is a sovereign country and it is absolutely wrong to look for Russia's destructive influence here," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday. Their action followed the arrest of a former Serb policeman accused of assaulting serving police officers. Kosovan Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said on Tuesday that Serbia, under the influence of Russia, was aiming to destabilise Kosovo.

The lawyer for a former Kosovo Serb policeman has been ordered released from prison and placed under house arrest.

“We have given KFOR the time and space needed to act, but of course, this time is quickly running out,” he warned. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. “This is not a simple process, and can’t be done in two hours, as some imagined.” About 4,000 NATO-led peacekeepers have been stationed in Kosovo since a 1998-99 separatist war ended with Serbia losing control over what was then one of its provinces. The Dec. He has been ordered released from prison and placed under house arrest.

Kosovo closed its biggest border crossing point with Serbia on Wednesday (28 December) after protestors blocked it on the Serbian side, adding more tensions ...

“Placing barricades on the road is an illegal, unacceptable action and will not be tolerated. Setting up barricades is an illegal and unacceptable action and will not be tolerated”, he warned. On Wednesday, he said the time given to KFOR to take action was running out. On Tuesday, ethnic Serbs put up two barricades in Mitrovica and Zvecan. Attacks on the central election commission, police, EULEX (the EU rule of law mission in Kosovo), and even journalists have been reported, including with gunfire and grenades. After being held in custody since 10 December, he was put under house arrest on Wednesday afternoon.

The United States, NATO and European Union urged maximum restraint in the north of Kosovo, where authorities closed a third border crossing on Wednesday ...

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. Since then, Serbs in northern Kosovo have exchanged fire with police and erected more than 10 roadblocks, demanding his release. Two border crossings between Serbia and Kosovo were closed on Dec. Around 50,000 Serbs living in northern Kosovo refuse to recognise the government in Pristina or the status of Kosovo as a separate country. 10 for assaulting a serving police officer. MITROVICA, Kosovo, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Kosovo Serbs who have been blocking roads in northern Kosovo for 19 days have agreed to start removing barricades from Thursday morning, bowing to calls by the United States and European Union to defuse tensions.

The former officer from Kosovo's Serb minority, Dejan Pantic, was arrested on December 10 for allegedly assaulting a Kosovan agent. Ethnic Serbs set up ...

“Serbia is a sovereign country and it is fundamentally wrong to look for some kind of destructive influence of Russia here,” he said. “We also expect Kosovo and Serbia to return to fostering an environment conducive to reconciliation, regional stability and co-operation for the benefit of their citizens,” they said. [EU](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/european-union/) said they were concerned by the “continued tense situation”. [Kosovo](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/kosovo/) said it would release a police officer whose arrest has fuelled soaring tension with [Serbia](https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/serbia/). In a joint statement on Wednesday, the US and the Kosovo on Wednesday closed a border crossing due to what it called illegal blockades, while Serbia said the “protests” were “democratic and peaceful”.

The arrest of Dejan Pantic, who will now be placed under house arrest, heightened tensions between Pristina and Belgrade.

or go through North Macedonia." /Reuters/Florion Goga /REUTERS/Marko Djurica

The text of the following statement was released by the State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel and Spokesperson of the EU High ...

This includes, in particular, fair trial guarantees, as well as protection and equal treatment for members of non-majority communities in Kosovo. The United States of America will support the European Union’s work through its Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). At the same time, rule of law must be respected, and any form of violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.

Serbs started erecting the barricades about 18 days ago in protest at the arrest of a Kosovo Serb former police officer. Mr Vucic accused the West and Kosovo's ...

“Their aim is to expel Serbia out of Kosovo … Money from shares contributes directly to keep our paper thriving. Previously, barricades were set up on roads leading to the Kosovo-Serbia border.

A former Kosovo Serb policeman, whose arrest triggered violent protests by Kosovo's Serb minority, will be released from...

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. The Kremlin on Wednesday also denied the Kosovan accusations but said it supported Belgrade. Kosovan Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said on Tuesday Serbia was aiming to destabilise Kosovo.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has urged ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to end protests against the Pristina government, reassuring them that they would be ...

Serbs in north Kosovo have erected barricades and blocked roads for about three weeks following the arrest of former police officer Dejan Pantic by Kosovo police. The United States and European Union are mediating talks to resolve outstanding bilateral issues. Register for free to Reuters and know the full story

The European Union and the United States urged Pristina and Belgrade to de-escalate tensions.

[Monday](https://www.politico.eu/article/serbia-army-kosovo-war-nato-tension-combat-readiness/), Serbian Defense Minister Miloš Vučević announced the Serbian army had been placed in its “highest level of combat readiness” following unverified reports that Kosovar police forces had opened fire on ethnic Serbs in Northern Kosovo. diplomats are working with both governments to “find a political solution in order to defuse the tensions and agree on the way forward in the interest of stability, safety and well-being of all local communities,” according to the same statement, which comes from the European External Action Service (EEAS) and the U.S. Authorities [denied](https://m.facebook.com/KosovoPolice) the incident.

Calls for a de-escalation in tensions between Kosovo and Serbia intensified on Wednesday (28 December), with the EU, US, and NATO's mission in Kosovo, KFOR, ...

Therefore, she and the entire international community bear a great responsibility for everything that is happening and can happen in Kosovo”, declared Dacic. We are with Kosovo in this difficult situation, and we call on the Serbian authorities not to justify either the barricades or the criminal groups that refuse to remove them. Playing with fire is a very bad idea for the future of all our children”, declared Xhacka. The decision caused outrage in Serbia, but Porfirije stated that Serbia must do all it could to help preserve the peace. That is our position, and I hope that this [ban] will not happen again,” he said. It continues saying that both are jointly working with Serbia’s President Aleksander Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti “to find a political solution to defuse the tensions and agree on the way forward in the interest of stability, safety and well-being of all local communities.”

A former Kosovo Serb policeman, whose arrest triggered violent protests by Kosovo's Serb minority, will be released from...

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. The Kremlin on Wednesday also denied the Kosovan accusations but said it supported Belgrade. Kosovan Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla said on Tuesday Serbia was aiming to destabilise Kosovo.

A former Kosovo Serb police officer, whose arrest earlier this month prompted fellow Kosovo Serbs to protest and erect road blockades, was released from ...

[KFOR](https://twitter.com/NATO_KFOR/status/1607328899029139460), the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo, said earlier this week that indirect gunshots were fired near patrolling NATO troops on Sunday, but no injuries were reported. [Politico](https://www.politico.eu/article/serbia-army-kosovo-war-nato-tension-combat-readiness/?utm_source=POLITICO.EU&utm_campaign=01284f1b38-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2022_12_28_05_21&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_10959edeb5-01284f1b38-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D)reported. [local news](https://kossev.info/na-merdaru-barikade-a-predsednik-u-ponocnoj-setnji-u-garnizonu-u-raski/)reported. [Balkan Insight](https://balkaninsight.com/2022/11/16/kosovo-serbs-report-arson-attacks-amid-licence-plates-dispute/#:~:text=A%20Kosovo%20citizen%20reported%20to,arrested%20and%20remanded%20in%20custody.)reported. [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/kosovo-put-detained-serb-under-house-arrest-possibly-easing-standoff-2022-12-28/)reported. [AP](https://apnews.com/article/politics-kosovo-government-legal-proceedings-law-enforcement-d0fea59859ce6be3be5b1534400b7103) reported.

Last week, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic ruled that the situation was "on the verge of armed conflict". Several hundred Kosovo Serbs have ...

Serbia has encouraged the approximately 120,000 Serbs in Kosovo to challenge the local authorities, amid a push by Pristina to establish its sovereignty over the whole territory. On Tuesday evening, dozens of protesters on the Serbian side of the border blocked traffic towards Merdare, the main border crossing to Kosovo, with trucks and tractors. Several hundred Kosovo Serbs have erected roadblocks in northern Kosovo since early December to protest the arrest of a former Serbian policeman, Dejan Pantic.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the dismantling of barricades that have blocked roads will begin on Thursday.

They have the support of many Serbs in Serbia and its government. The move forced Kosovo police to close the entry point on Wednesday. We are working with Ptd Vučić and PM Kurti to find a political solution in the interest of stability, safety and well-being of all local communities. I can tell you 500 things we can get if they are removed,” Vucic said during the meeting, state-controlled public broadcaster RTS reported. “This is not a simple process, and can’t be done in two hours, as some imagined. 🇪🇺and 🇺🇸 call for maximum restraint and immediate de-escalation in north Kosovo.

As winter draws in and snow settles on the peaks and hills of Kosovo, the permeating odour from burning firewood and pellets becomes an inescapable part of ...

But then the springtime and summertime will be a good time to take additional measures.” You need to tell them about children and the future. Many also cut it to sell and bring in much needed income in one of Europe’s poorest economies. Experts agree that solar and wind power are the way forward, along with the use of heat pumps, district heating, and energy efficiency solutions. While many will opt to burn more firewood this year, that brings with it a raft of environmental and health concerns. And they will have to get another alternative, which is firewood.”