New tensions in license plate dispute between Serbia and Kosovo Climate activists block private jets at Schiphol

In Kosovo, tensions have increased between representatives of the Serb minority and the government in Pristina. According to a decision by the Kosovar-Serb party Srpska Lista on Saturday, all ethnic Serbs have resigned from their positions in Kosovar institutions such as police, judiciary, parliament and municipalities. They protest against the decision of the government in Pristina to oblige ethnic Serbs to replace their license plates from neighboring Serbia with Kosovar ones. The EU, NATO and KFOR International Defense Forces reacted with concern to the developments.

The decision to resign was taken on Saturday in the northern Kosovar town of Zvecan at a meeting of the Srpska Lista, which is supported by Belgrade. Ethno-Serb police officers, among other things, took off their Kosovar police uniforms, to the applause of the meeting participants.

The government in Pristina had previously fired the regional police chief in charge of the northern Serbian area in Kosovo. He had refused to call on people to exchange their license plates. At the same time, Pristina extended the deadline for a change to April 21 next year. In the event of violations, warnings should be given gradually, leading to fines.

«The latest developments endanger years of work on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. I have called on both sides to refrain from unilateral actions that could lead to further tensions.”Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, said on Twitter. Borrell had, among other things, tried to mediate in the license plate dispute. Similar calls came from NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana, from the KFOR Protection Force and from the EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak.

The former Serbian province of Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Serbia does not recognize this, unlike most countries in the world. (saw/sda/dpa)