[Text/Observer.com Liu Chenghui] Tensions in northern Kosovo are still escalating. According to Serbian media Vucic.rs and Associated Press 27 reports, Serbian residents in the northern region of Kosovo set up more new roadblocks with heavy trucks in Mitrovica (a gathering place for Serbs) that day to prevent the Kosovo authorities from entering. This is also the first time since the crisis began that Serbs have blocked the streets of major towns. On the other hand, according to Serbian media Kurir.rs, former Serbian policeman Dejan Pantić, who was arrested on the 10th of this month, will be released.
Serbian President Vucic delivered a speech on the same day, accusing the West and the Kosovo authorities of wanting to escalate the conflict and expel Serbia and Serbs from Kosovo. Vucic criticized those who followed NATO and trampled on Serbian territory. Not only do they still want to do so now, but they are also "talking nonsense" on the issue of territorial integrity to put pressure on Serbia. On the night of the 26th, Vucic announced that the country's army and police had entered the highest level of combat readiness.
The Associated Press reported that the picture shows the Serbs using trucks to set up roadblocks in northern Kosovo on the 27th.
Serbian media Kurir.rs reported
The Russian Satellite News Agency reported on the 27th that the local portal "Kosovo Online" reported that the Serbs in northern Kosovo set up new roadblocks on the road. Serbs say they will remove the roadblocks only if Kosovo authorities meet their demands. Protesters also demand the release of Serbs detained by Kosovo authorities and the withdrawal of police special forces stationed in the north of the region.
Vucic and Serbian Patriarch Porfiriya jointly attended a press conference on the 27th. Vucic told the media that the West and the Kosovo authorities hope to escalate the conflict and conspire to "cause unrest and kill Serbs who set up roadblocks."
Vucic said that for those who are "hysterical" and want to dismantle roadblocks, their essential purpose is to expel the Serbs from the Kosovo region . They believe this is the only way to solve the problem. Vucic added that even if the current situation calms down, new things will happen in 15 or 30 days, because the goal of the Kosovo authorities is to permanently expel Serbia and the "disobedient Serb people" from the Kosovo region.
"Considering the geopolitical situation and the fact that they want to use the situation in Russia and Ukraine to overwhelm us, there is no doubt that this situation will continue." Vucic said, "I am not sure whether we will be able to solve it well because we are talking to someone who is not willing to have any communication."
Vucic warned the Kosovo authorities not to arrest Serbs just because they have dissent. He said that Serbia is currently having "difficult and serious" talks with international representatives. "We are working hard to maintain peace, fight for peace, and reach a compromise solution."
Serbian President Vucic delivered a speech on the 27th (Vucic.rs photo)
Vucic sarcastically said that when the Kosovo authorities talked about the so-called "territorial integrity", he really didn't know what to do.
"Those who worked with NATO countries to seize, destroy, and trample on the territorial integrity of Serbia are trying to do so even today." Vucic said that what these people did to Serbia violated all agreements such as the " United Nations Charter " and now they still dare to "talk nonsense" and make "crazy" remarks on the topic of territorial integrity.
Vucic revealed that the West is threatening Serbia to remove the roadblocks, otherwise "there will be no time." The West also says that if Serbia does not meet their demands, they will let the Kosovo authorities do whatever they want.
"Well, we know that you all want to provoke conflicts and kill Serbs, and you will be happy for the death of Serbs, because for you, confirming the territorial integrity of the so-called Kosovo region is more important than maintaining the territorial integrity of Serbia." Vucic said.
According to Reuters news, the head of the Kosovo interior department Svechila claimed on the 27th that the Serbian side’s purpose is to destabilize Kosovo by supporting the Serbs in northern Kosovo.However, Vucic refuted the same day that Serbia only wanted to protect the local Serb minority. Serbia will "continue to fight for peace and seek compromises."
In addition, Serbian Prime Minister Brnabic 27 denied the statement that "Serbia sent armed personnel to station roadblocks in Kosovo."
Serbian President Vucic (data map)
On the evening of the 26th local time, Serbian Defense Minister Vucic stated that according to President Vucic’s order, all Serbian armed forces began to prepare for the use of force that night. Vucevic pointed out that the reason why the army has entered the highest level of combat readiness is to safeguard Serbia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. Serbian Interior Minister Gacic also stated that night that the Serbian police force has also entered the highest level of combat readiness and will be directed by the General Staff to enter designated locations to carry out combat missions as needed.
Kosovo is an autonomous province of the former Yugoslav Republic of Serbia. It was administered by the United Nations after the end of the 1999 Kosovo War . In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence, and Serbia has always insisted on its sovereignty over Kosovo.
Recently, tensions in northern Kosovo have continued to escalate. The Kosovo authorities police detained some Serb police officers in the northern part of the area in December. Kosovo Serbs have set up roadblocks in northern Kosovo since December 10 and are on duty on the highway, triggering conflicts between the two sides. Kosovo authorities have asked NATO-led peacekeepers stationed there to dismantle roadblocks.
On December 18, the NATO Forces in Kosovo (KFOR) announced that it would hold a "tactical military exercise" in the next few days.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova earlier said that Russia is "shocked" by the escalating tensions in Kosovo, which is the fault of the "radical" Kosovo authorities and their Western supporters.
Zakharova accused the Kosovo authorities of carrying out "a series of provocations" with the connivance of the United States and the European Union and using "racially motivated violence" against the remaining Serbs in the area. The Kosovo authorities are trying to divert attention from failed internal policies by playing with fire, stoking hysterical Serbphobia and bringing tensions close to an armed conflict.
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