“unilateral step, uncoordinated action” The north-most stock history that prompted Western response

In recent days, two steps of Kosovo authorities have prompted warnings from the EU for consequences, and US calls for finding solutions through dialogue mediated by official Brussels.

On August 5th, nine branches of Serbia's Post were closed in the Serb-run north. The European Union and the US expressed disappointment at the action.

After insisting on opening the Ibri Bridge on August 6th and 7th, Interior Minister Jhelal Svecla visited it.

There is no reason for the bridge not to open. Now, when it opens, it's about the expert assessment of”, Svechla said.

These actions have supported the states of QUINT ( US, UK, Germany, France, Italy) and no mission NATO in Kosovo, KFOR.

Various shares in Kosovo's north have prompted similar reactions from the West since 2021.

From demands for suspension and return to dialogue until the application of punitive measures, international representatives in Kosovo have repeatedly urged Albin Kurti's government to withdraw from decisions made.

September 20, 2021 Kosovo's government decides that drivers from Serbia, once entering Kosovo, should change or cover their plates and receive Kosovo's temporary registration.

September 22, 2021 ) European Union for Foreign Policy and Security High Representative Josep Borrell calls for an immediate reduction in tensions.

June 29, 2022 ) Kosovo's government approves the decision on the possibility of reregistering cars with city license plates in Kosovo which releases Serbia's authorities to those RKS (Kosovo Republic).

July 31, 2022 ) US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier urges the Kosovo government to postpone implementation of decisions on Serbian license plates and documents for 30 days.

August 1, 2022 ) The implementation of decisions on Serbian documents and license plates until 1 September 2022 is postponed.

 

September 1, 2022 ) Reregisterment of vehicles at RKS plates begins in northern Kosovo. Car reregistering is given a two-month term, until October 31st.

October 28, 2022 ) The Kosovo government expands the plan for plates issued by Serbia, to be implemented in several phases. The plan envisions as early as April 21st of next year “will be removed” all plates that are not RKS- Republic of Kosovo.

October 28, 2022 ) US State Department (DASH) requires extending the deadline for car reregistering.

The United States is disappointed and concerned that the Government of Kosovo has rejected the demands of international partners to do so”, the UN said.

 

October 29, 2022 The European Union says it is “misleading” with the Kosovo Government's decision.

“It is disappointing to see that the [international partners' advice]” has not been followed, says the EU response.

November 2, 2022 ) Kosovo police in the north, mostly made up of local Serbs, refuse to distribute premonition papers, which were envisioned as the first step in launching implementation of the plan for registering RKS license plates.

November 3, 2022 ) Police director in the north Nenad Djurovic is suspended after refusing to implement the Government's decision on license plates.

 

November 5, 2022 Serbian members of the Kosovo Police, judiciary and prosecution in the north resign following the Serbian List's decision to abandon institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.

November 6, 2022 ) European Union diplomacy chief Josep Borrell calls on Pristina and Belgrade to refrain from any unilateral action that could increase tensions. It also requires delaying the deadline for reregistering cars.

November 14, 2022 Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has set the 18 December date for holding extraordinary elections for mayors in the north.

December 7, 2022 ) The United States estimates there are no conditions for holding elections in northern Kosovo, following the attack on CEC offices in northern Mitrovica.

December 10, 2022 ) Elections scheduled for December 18th are postponed.

December 10, 2022 ) Former Serbian police officer Dejan Pantic is arrested on allegations that he had organised the attack on Central Election Commission officials in the north.

December 13, 2022 ) The US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, urges the Kosovo government to allow the return of Serbs who resigned from institutions.

January 4, 2023 ) Kosovo police announce the opening of the competition for the admission of new policemen to the Mitrovica-North Regional Directorate.

April 21, 2023 ) The Serbian list calls for boycotting the election process in northern Kosovo municipalities.

April 23, 2023 ) Local elections are held in the north, 3.47 percent of residents vote.

May 10, 2023 Kosovo's government approves the decision to expropriate land in majority Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, with the aim of “realising infrastructure projects with public interest”.

May 12, 2023 The EU office in Kosovo calls for “to be closely respected in the legal procedures related to the expropriation of real estate” and to ensure respect for owner property rights.

May 18, 2023 US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier says Kosovo authorities should not use force to gain access to municipal buildings in northern Kosovo.

May 19 and 25, 2023 New Albanian mayors of four municipalities in the north are sworn in.

May 26, 2023 Under police escorts, new chiefs enter municipal buildings.

May 26, 2023 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken strongly condemns the actions of the Government of Kosovo. He said these actions were taken “contrary to the advice of the United States and European partners of Kosovo”.

May 26, 2023 Internationals criticise Kosovo government for straining the situation. QUINT condemns Kosovo's decision “to enter municipal buildings in the north, despite our calls for 48x1> content.

May 30, 2023 European Union diplomacy chief Josep Borrell says Kosovo should suspend police operations around municipal buildings in the north, as the first <x0-> step towards reducing tensions, while violent protesters stop”.

May 30, 2023 US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier said that the Government of Kosovo has not been co-ordinated with the US for actions taken in the north and, for this reason, has suffered the first consequence: “Defender Europe 2023 exercises have ended to”.

June 1, 2023 ) France and Germany seek new elections, calls join allies.

June 13, 2023 ) The European Union prepares punitive measures against Kosovo for ignoring requirements for immediate steps to reduce tensions in the north.

June 29, 2023 ) Kosovo's government announced the terrorist organisation Civil Protection and the North Brigade, which operate in northern Kosovo, the Serb-populated area. The two organisations number hundreds of members of the Serb community.

June 29, 2023 ) The UN says the Kosovo government has not been co-ordinated with Washington as far as Civil Defence and Northern Brigade declarations are being declared as terrorist organisations.

July 6, 2023 ) The EU says the Kosovo Government's decision to declare Civil Protection and the Northern Brigade terrorist organisation is “unilateral step”, which, according to the bloc, does not contribute to lower tensions.

August 22, 2023 ) Local authorities in northern Mitrovica hand over their deputy head of the Serbian List, Igor Simuri, a report saying that Serbian institutions should release “ ” their object within three days.

August 23, 2023 ) The US Embassy in Kosovo says that the local authorities' decision in northern Mitrovica for “removing” of Serbian institutions from the municipal building has not been taken in co-ordination with the international community, nor in line with its requirements for failing to take actions that could escalate the situation.

August 24, 2023 ) The EU says that the North Mitrovica municipality decision led by Erden Attic by the ruling party, the Vetevendosje Movement, is in conflict with efforts to defuse the situation and reduce tensions in the reports between Kosovo and Serbia.

January 1, 2024 ) Cars with RKS ʹ Republic of Kosovo freely move on Serbia's territory. Their movement was enabled after the December 25th decision of 2023 of the Serbian government.

January 4, 2024 ) Kosovo's government abolishs the decision to place sticky letters on Serbian license plates, after Serbia decided to allow vehicles with RKS RKS ʹ to move freely on its territory.

January 17, 2024 ) Kosovo Central Bank (BQK) reports that, on February 1st, the only currency for cash payments available in Kosovo will be the euro. This enables Serbs to use the Serbian dinar in Kosovo.

January 19, 2024 ) The EU asks Kosovo to clarify the CEC's decision.

January 24, 2024 The U.S. wants to reconsider the decision on the dinar.

“We are concerned that the regulation adopted on December 27th will have a negative impact on the Serb community in Kosovo”, said in its response.

February 1, 2024 ) Kosovo Central Bank regulations envisioning only euro currency to be used for payment, ending the use of the Serbian dinar.

February 13, 2024 ) US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien says the US may not treat Kosovo as a partner if it makes decisions without consulting it and requires the immediate suspension of the BEC's decision.

April 21, 2024 ) The Central Election Commission (KQZ) says the initiative for departure or not of the mayors has failed, due to low turnout. The Serbian list boycotted the petition.

April 22, 2024 ) The EU says that although Kosovo has organised the voting process, the April 21st result does not contribute to lowering tensions and opening the way to the return of Serbs to Kosovo institutions, which is essential for normalisation of relations.

April 22, 2024 ) After the petition failed, France immediately called for local elections to be organised in northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok.

May 20,24 é Through a police operation on Serbian financial institutions in northern Kosovo, six objects of the Post and People's Bank of Serbia are closed in four municipalities in northern Kosovo.

May 21, 2024 The UN says it is disappointed that Kosovo police have taken action at financial offices in northern Kosovo and have called for commitment in the EU-brokered dialogue.

May 31, 2024 The issue of opening the bridge over the Iber River returns to discussion at the Communist Assembly in northern Mitrovica.

May 31, 2024 Peacekeeping Mission NATO in Kosovo, KFOR calls for any decision concerning the main bridge over the Iber River to be taken within Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

June 5, 2024 ) In the final decision of the Government of Kosovo to expropriate the lands in Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, some private parcels are excluded, but only those citizens who have won the process in court.

June 6, 2024 ) QU INT, EU and O The SEU says the government has violated its laws and regulations due to procedural and technical shortcomings during the expropriation process”.

June 11, 2024 German Ambassador to Pristina Jorn Rohde says the Kosovo government's decision to finalise expropriation in the country's north was not in line with the law, according to a report by Council of Europe (KiE).

July 18, 2024 Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti says his government aims to open the main bridge over the Iber River.

August 2, 2024 ) US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Havenier says the QUINT and NATO countries do not support the opening of the Ibri Bridge in Mitrovica at this time.

August 5, 2024 ) Kosovo police close nine Serbian Post of State objects in the north. In northern Mitrovica and Leposaviq are closed by three objects, in Zvecan two, and one in Zubin Potok.

August 5, 2024 ) The American Embassy in Pristina is deeply disappointed with what it has described as unilateral and uncoordinated actions of the Government of Kosovo against the Serbian Post Office branches in northern Kosovo.

August 6, 2024 ) After conducting a visit of Kosovo officials to the Ibri Bridge, KFOR says it will not hesitate to deal with any development that could affect stability. / REL