Amid the deepening conflict in the Balkans between Serbia and Kosovo, a solution to the 19-day roadblock is emerging. The Serbs will start dismantling the barricades on Thursday morning.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (52) announced this on Wednesday evening after a meeting with Serbs from northern Kosovo in the Serbian town of Raška. “It’s a lengthy process. It’s going to take a while.”
The trigger was the arrest of a Serbian police officer who allegedly assaulted Kosovo police officers during an earlier demonstration. The Serbian demonstrators demand his release and set up roadblocks during the sometimes violent protests. A court in Pristina has now ordered that he be released and placed under house arrest.
20 years of smoldering conflict
Tensions in the region had escalated this week after Serbia deployed its army on Monday and Kosovo closed its main border crossing on Wednesday. NATO, the US and the European Union were concerned about the development and called for restraint and a willingness to dialogue. On the other hand, Russia supported Serbia.
The conflict has been smoldering for more than 20 years. About 50,000 Serbs live in the north of the predominantly Albanian Kosovo. They refuse to recognize the government in Pristina and Kosovo as a state. Serbia also does not recognize the independence of its former southern province.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence in 2008 after nine years under UN rule. This was set up after the Serbian security forces were driven out by NATO military action. The UN Security Council resolution adopted in June 1999 also reaffirmed Kosovo’s connection with Serbia under international law. Belgrade maintains that the resolution is still valid. Attempts to change it failed because of Russia’s UN veto power. (SDA)