Russia blames US, EU for yesterday's tensions in the north

On Saturday, Russia blamed Kosovo, the US and the EU for escalating tensions in the Balkans and said it is monitoring the situation with concern following tensions between Kosovo police and protesters who rejected Albanian leaders taking office in northern Kosovo municipalities.

The United States and the EU criticised Kosovo on Friday, saying that the use of force to force the mayors to take over duties in Serb majority areas, undermines efforts to improve relations with neighbouring Serbia, writes Croatian news agency “Hina”, writes Klankosova.tv.

Saturday, NATO called on Kosovo to reduce tensions with Serbia.

The clashes between Kosovo police and protesters who oppose Albanian leaders prompted Serbia's reaction, and President Aleksandar Vuciq put the army on combat alert Friday and ordered it to approach the border with Kosovo.

“We firmly condemn the provocative steps taken by Pristina, which brought the situation to a fever and directly threatened the security of the entire Balkans. The United States and the European Union bear full responsibility for this”, Russian Defence Ministry spokeswoman Marija Zakharova said.

“Western mediators” were remembered too late to rebuke Kosovo, Zakharova added.

Yesterday, local Serbs from three northern municipalities -- Leposaviq, Zubin Potok and Zvecan -- blocked the entrances to municipal facilities, thus unable to access Albanian mayors who received their mandates after the April 23rd elections.

As a result, there were clashes between protesters and police in Zvecan, where five police officers remained, while several Kosovo Police vehicles were damaged. On the part of protesters, there were no injuries, according to official reports.