Today News: Kosovo

Showing posts with label Kosovo. Show all posts

Kosovo declares Russian journalist persona non grata over alleged espionage

Pristina bans Daria Aslamova's entry for 5 years, announces Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla
Source https://www.globalcourant.com/kosovo-declares-russian-journalist-persona-non-grata-over-alleged-espionage/?feed_id=7892&_unique_id=62f003018a009

Russia Accuses ‘Radical’ Kosovo of Displacing Serbs in Border Row

Russia has accused “radical” Kosovo of attempting to displace Serbs from north of the Balkan country with new border rules that have renewed tensions.

Kosovo police closed two border crossings with Serbia on Sunday after it took on gunfire and ethnic Serbs blocked roads at two border crossings. Ethnic Serbs, who make up a majority of the population there, protested Pristina’s requirements for them to obtain temporary documents and license plates while visiting Kosovo — a move that Pristina defends as reciprocal to Belgrade’s.

Kosovo agreed to delay the implementation of the plan for one month until Sept. 1 after the protests and talks with EU and U.S. ambassadors.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry accused Kosovo of taking “another step toward the expulsion of the Serbian population from Kosovo [and] the ouster of Kosovo Serbian institutions that protect the rights of Serbian residents from the arbitrary rule of Pristina radicals.”

“Kosovar leaders know that Serbs will not be indifferent to a direct attack on their freedoms, and they are deliberately aggravating it in order to launch a violent scenario,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a statement late Sunday.

Zakharova said the Serbia-Kosovo tensions served as “further evidence of the failure of the EU mediation mission.”

EU-led talks launched in 2011 have so far failed to normalize ties between Belgrade and Pristina.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said earlier Sunday that “Serbia will win” if Serbs are attacked, noting that “the atmosphere has been brought to a boil.”

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused Vucic of igniting “unrest” and called for the removal of barricades on Monday.

More than 100 countries except Serbia and Russia recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a decade after NATO-led bombing ended a war between the neighbors.

Bound by culture and the Orthodox Church, the Balkan state lies within Russia’s former sphere of influence in ex-communist Europe, although the EU is by far the biggest foreign investor.

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/russia-accuses-radical-kosovo-of-displacing-serbs-in-border-row/?feed_id=4985&_unique_id=62e76b210b88d

Serbia believes to get 'good news' soon amid tensions with Kosovo

Serbia's President Vucic said the following period will be a very difficult political struggle.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic speaks during a news conference in Belgrade, Serbia, June 10, 2022. (Reuters)

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said he hoped the tension with Kosovo would be resolved by Monday.

Vucic met with Serbian Chief of Staff Milan Mojsilovic and the commander of the NATO Force in Kosovo (KFOR) in Belgrade, Serbia.

Following the meeting, Vucic noted on late Sunday that he is hoping to find a solution with Kosovo in the coming period.

"I believe that, for the short term, we will have good news. I can't say what will happen next. But this will de-escalate [tensions] if not tonight then tomorrow," Vucic said.

He also noted that this is a chance to gain time for talks.

Pointing out that the coming weeks and months will be a very difficult political struggle, Vucic said, "I would like to thank those who have controlled themselves, especially the Kosovo Serbs."

"I want to reiterate once again that we will not surrender and Serbia will win," he said.

Earlier Vucic defined the tensions as a "complex situation" and blamed Kosovo for the escalating tensions over the license plates and ID cards.

Gunfire has been heard in northern Kosovo, a day before the country enforces a contentious law. Journalist Haris Alija has more from Kosovo’s capital Pristina pic.twitter.com/bHlHSnPqkj
— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) July 31, 2022

Kosovo postponed decisions

Fourteen years after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia, some 50,000 Serbs living in the north use license plates and documents issued by Serbian authorities, refusing to recognise institutions under the capital, Pristina.

The government of Prime Minister Albin Kurti said it would give Serbs a transitional period of 60 days starting Aug 1 to get Kosovo license plates, a year after giving up trying to impose them due to similar protests.

Kosovo police said they closed two border crossings in the volatile north after local Serbs blocked roads and fired shots at police in protest at an order to switch Serb car license plates to Kosovar ones within two months.

NATO's forces in Kosovo are prepared to intervene if stability is endangered in the north of Kosovo, KFOR said in a press release as tensions are running high.

But, after meeting with high ranking EU and US officials Kosovo government released a statement to delay the decisions.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti released a statement that the postponement is conditioned to the removal of all barricades and complete restoration of freedom of movement in Kosova's volatile town of Mitrovica.

Source: TRTWorld and agencies

Source https://www.globalcourant.com/serbia-believes-to-get-good-news-soon-amid-tensions-with-kosovo/?feed_id=4908&_unique_id=62e732fc198cc

Kosovo postpones decisions on car plates, entry-exit documents with Serbia

Kosovo's PM Kurti said the decision has been taken in cooperation with international allies for 30 days on the condition that all barricades are removed and complete freedom of movement is restored.

Gendarmeries and security forces block the road as security measures are taken around the city while air raid sirens are heard near the Kosovo/Serbian border, in Mitrovica, Kosovo on July 31, 2022. (AA)

Kosovo has postponed the decision for a month which introduced the application of national license plates and border crossing documents with Serbia in the country.

The decision came after Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti met with American and European international representatives.

"On this occasion, the Government of Kosova pledges to delay the implementation of the two decisions of 29 June 2022 until 1 September 2022, starting from that moment on Monday, 1 August 2022, once all barricades are removed and complete freedom of movement is restored on all roads in the north of Kosova," the government said in a press release.

The government condemned the Kosovo Serbs' action to close the border crossings on Sunday, claiming that it was planned by the Serbian capital, Belgrade.

"We thank our international partners, and US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier in particular, for their involvement and contribution," the press release added.

In cooperation with our international allies, we pledge to postpone implementation of decisions on car plates & entry-exit documents at border crossing points w/ Serbia for 30 days, on the condition that all barricades are removed & complete freedom of movement is restored. pic.twitter.com/oJNaQi0qPO
— Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) July 31, 2022

Cavusoglu in contact with Serbian, Kosovar counterparts

Türkiye’s foreign minister held separate phone calls on Sunday with his Kosovar and Serbian counterparts as tensions between Serbia and Kosovo continued to rise.

Mevlut Cavusoglu stressed that “common sense must prevail” in the region, according to a statement by the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Underlining the importance that Türkiye attaches to peace and stability in the Balkans, Cavusoglu said Ankara is ready to do its part to reduce tensions.

Spoke with my #Serbian & #Kosovar counterparts regarding the recent tension.
Peace and stability in the Balkans have always been a priority for Türkiye.
New tensions will not help anyone.
Türkiye is ready to do whatever is necessary to reduce the tension.
— Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu (@MevlutCavusoglu) July 31, 2022

Separately, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of EU Commission Josep Borrel welcomed Pristina's decision.

"Expect all roadblocks to be removed immediately. Open issues should be addressed through EU-facilitated Dialogue & focus on comprehensive normalisation of relations btwn Kosovo & Serbia, essential for their EU integration paths," Borrell said.

KFOR ready to intervene

NATO's forces in Kosovo are prepared to intervene if stability is endangered in the north of Kosovo, KFOR said in a press release.

Tensions between Pristina and Belgrade are running high as air raid sirens were heard for more than three hours in the small border town of Mitrovica.

"The NATO-led KFOR mission is monitoring closely and is prepared to intervene if stability is jeopardised, in accordance with its mandate, coming from UNSC Resolution 1244 of 1999," the statement said on late Sunday.