Central European War? Balkan conflict threatens to escalate – 24-hour ultimatum to NATO
The border conflict between Kosovo and Serbia threatens to escalate. Serbia puts military units on combat alert.
PRISTINA – The situation on the border of Kosovo* and Serbia* is threatened with escalation. Serbia's Kosovar has closed two border crossings there for two weeks. This was reported by the Serbian state TV RTS. After the Kosovo Rosso special police units were deployed at the affected border crossings, Serbia put Serbian military units stationed near the border on combat alert. The international community is also on alert.
Tensions have arisen over a regulation by the Kosovo government in Pristina, which states that the use of Serbian car plates in Kosovo is no longer permitted. It was directly influenced by the several thousand Kosovar Serbs in the Serbian enclave around the town of Kosovska Mitrovica in northern Kosovo, who still use vehicles with Serbian license plates. This procedure also applies to travelers from Serbia. According to the new law, these Serbian plates must be replaced with temporary license plates from Kosovo at the border.
Border tensions: the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia threatens to escalate
The background to the dispute is the fact that Serbia, for its part, does not recognize the license plates that Kosovo handed over after declaring independence in 2008. The decision should be seen as a belated reaction by the government in Pristina.
Kosovo seceded from Serbia in 2008. However, the Serbian government still does not recognize independence and considers Kosovo a breakaway province. As an ally of Serbia, Russia also does not recognize Kosovo's independence. However, most Western countries – including the United States – have done so.
A week ago, Kosovo deployed the Russo Special Police Unit on the Yarenje and Prancak borders to enforce license plate regulations. Since then, protesters have blocked the main road leading to Mitrovica. In response, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic put Serbian military units stationed near the border on combat alert.
Serbian military units on combat alert: military aircraft near the border
As announced by the Serbian Ministry of Defense in Belgrade, Vucic made this decision after the "provocation" of the special forces in Kosovo. Serbian military aircraft have flown several times over the area near the border with Kosovo. Kosovo's President Vjjusa Osmani has suspended his visit to the United Nations in New York due to developments in his country.
NATO and the European Union are concerned about the events taking place on the border between Serbia and Kosovo. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and EU Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell have used restraint and de-escalation from Serbia and Kosovo. Both Serbia and Kosovo have to solve the problems they have to solve. And they announced this in a statement published in Brussels on Sunday. Borrell urgently needs to withdraw special forces. "Other provocations or unilateral and uncoordinated actions are unacceptable," he said.
NATO and EU warning: Vucic said to have issued ultimatum
Stoltenberg announced on Twitter that dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina is important. He spoke directly with Serbian President and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Sunday, September 26. According to information received from Serbian Media Company Tangojo Vucic is said to have given an ultimatum to NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg.
He wanted to "wait 24 hours" to see how NATO would react if it "was there to confront Serbia". In addition, he is said to have said: "If the people's questions continue, Serbia will give and will not allow it." According to information received from AR Vucic is said to have announced to the Secretary General of NATO that he will be ready for dialogue only when Kosovo withdraws its police units from the border.
The end of the conflict is yet to be seen for now: von der Leyen is expected to be in Kosovo
However, the current situation is not visible. On Monday (27 September), an AFP correspondent reported to AFP that Belgrade transported four armored vehicles to the border with Kosovo. KFOR, led by NATO, announced in Pristina that it was carefully reconciling the situation to "ensure a safe environment and freedom of movement for all population groups in Kosovo" as mandated by the United Nations. Regular KFOR patrols have been included in northern Kosovo.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also intervened in the crisis. It is expected to arrive in Kosovo on Wednesday. Tensions with Serbia could also become an issue at the Balkan summit of European Heads of State and Government on October 6.