Four years from ban on Serbian train entry into Kosovo

The train was launched without the permission of official Pristina, which praised the goal of its entry into Kosovo as provocation and violation of its sovereignty and thus prevented its entry.

The launch of the provocative train, according to Belgrade authorities, was a test aimed at establishing Belgrade regular line Mitrovica.

President Hashim Thaci was clear in his stance that the nationalist poster train should not be allowed to enter Kosovo.

Kosovo respects freedom of movement of people and goods. But the entrance of a train wrapped in nationalist posters from Serbia, which are contrary to the Constitution and Kosovo laws, is totally unacceptable. Furthermore, on this train there are travelers and senior officials of Serbia who do not have permission to enter Kosovo under procedures in power”, he had said.

Even then Prime Minister Isa Mustafa had stated that he would not allow such provocations aimed at turning Kosovo and the region into dark years and with unpredictable consequences.

The train, according to Serbian authorities, had been stopped in Rashka, a municipality in southwestern Serbia.

Then Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vuciq accused Pristina of provocation, while stressing that she has complained to EU foreign policy chief Federica Moghrini and that she will announce Russia, China and the US, as he said, the finding that Pristina is playing war games.

Then US Ambassador to Pristina Greg Delaway called on both sides for restraint, saying there is a need for normalisation, not for confrontation.

But then Serbian President Tomislav Nikolic was threatened to send the army to Kosovo after it prevented the Serbian train from entering its territory. However, his statements more a nationalist rhetoric than reality, as he would face NATO in Kosovo.

Tensions between the two countries were closely conveyed by foreign media, which wrote that the war regime used between Kosovo and Serbia is the theatre thunder because violent clashes between two states are not expected, but the incident shows how fragile peace and stability are in the Balkans