The tension between Serbia and Kosovo flared anew this weekend . The situation remained tense in northern Kosovo on Tuesday, as ethnic Serbs continued to gather in front of a town hall in Zvecan following violent clashes with NATO-led peacekeepers that left 30 soldiers injured.
NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) soldiers in full riot gear built a metal barrier around the municipal building in Zvecan and are preventing several hundred Serbs from entering.
Three armoured vehicles of the ethnic Albanian Kosovo police remained placed in front of the town hall. Their presence always sparked controversy in northern regions dominated by Serbs.
Serbs, who make up approximately six percent of Kosovo’s population, boycotted last month’s elections in northern municipalities. Where they are a majority, allowing ethnic Albanians to assume control of local councils despite a turnout of less than three and a half percent.
Numerous Serbs are requesting the withdrawal of Kosovo police forces and ethnic Albanian mayors whom they do not consider to be their genuine representatives.
Monday, tension flared in Serbia when protestors attempted to storm the Zvecan town hall but were repelled by Kosovo police firing tear gas to disperse the throng.
KFOR initially attempted to separate protesters from police but later began dispersing the throng with shields and batons. In response, protesters threw pebbles, bottles, and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers.
NATO Peacekeepers injured
KFOR said in a statement that 30 peacekeepers were injured in the confrontations. Including “fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices.”
The president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, stated that 52 demonstrators were injured, three of whom were “seriously” wounded. According to Kosovo police, five Serbs were detained for participating in the confrontations.
KFOR stated that the soldiers responded “to the unprovoked attacks of a violent and dangerous crowd” while impartially carrying out their mission.
KFOR stated that its peacekeepers prevented threats to the lives of Kosovo Serbs and Kosovo Albanians in order to prevent clashes between the parties and reduce the danger of escalation.
Rather than hiding behind false narratives, both parties must accept entire responsibility for what occurred and prevent further escalation.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) firmly condemned the “unprovoked” attacks against KFOR troops, describing them as “totally unacceptable.”
When tensions flared up a week ago, Belgrade placed its army on high alert and dispatched forces towards the Kosovo border.
Tuesday, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic announced meetings in Belgrade with ambassadors of the so-called Quint. A group of five prominent NATO members focusing on the Western Balkans, as well as representatives of Russia and China.
In 2008, Kosovo proclaimed independence from Serbia. However, Belgrade and its key allies Beijing and Moscow have refused to recognise it. Preventing Kosovo from obtaining a seat in the United Nations.
Serbs in Kosovo remained largely loyal to Belgrade, particularly in the north. Where they constitute a majority and oppose all attempts by Pristina to consolidate its authority over the region.