20 minutes agoCNN writes about the situation in the north: Kosovo calls for NATO intervention after growing ethnic tensions
Periskopi(4 years ago)
(4 years ago)The tense situation in northern Kosovo has attracted international media attention. Thus, CNN writes in an article that “Kosovo calls for NATO intervention after the weekend of violence amid rising ethnic tensions”. Kosovo's “Prime Minister urged NATO peacekeeping troops to intervene after minority protesters [...]
Kosovo's “prime minister called on NATO peacekeeping troops to intervene after Serb minority protesters blocked roads and unknown armed persons exchanged fire with police over the weekend amid growing ethnic tensions in the country's troubled north of”, CNN writes among other things.
At a press conference in Kosovo's capital, Pristina, on Sunday, Prime Minister Albin Kurti called on the Kosovo Force (KFOR) -- an international NATO-led peacekeeping force -- to ensure the “freedom of movement”, as he accused <x3-metric criminal gangs of blocking the roads.
A fragile peace has been preserved in Kosovo since it declared independence from Serbia in 2008 after the 1998-99 war, in which NATO intervened to protect the Kosovo Albanian majority. Serbia does not recognise Kosovo's independence.
In recent weeks, the Serb minority in northern Kosovo has responded with violent resistance to Pristina's movements, which they see as anti-Serb.
On Saturday, Serb protesters blocked the main roads following the arrest of a former Serb police officer. Kosovo police with firearms at several locations and responded to self-defense.
Meanwhile, a grenade has been thrown into EULEX's car, the European Union mission in Kosovo. There was no harm”, says the CNN article.
After straining the EU situation, the United States and NATO demanded restraint on both sides and demanded the removal of barricades.
Kosovo authorities also postponed local elections for April, as they were scheduled to hold next weekend.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Saturday that Belgrade would ask KFOR to allow Serbia to deploy military and police in Kosovo, but acknowledged there was no chance of giving permission.
On Sunday, Vucic said Serbia sought the release of all Serbs arrested by Kosovo's north, but also sought to lower tensions in the region.
Vucic accused authorities in Pristina and Kosovo Prime Minister Kurti of inciting tensions, making “unilateral moves”.
