The dark cloud of war once again enveloped Europe, crossed the border between Russia and Ukraine, and filled the sky over the Balkans.
Since Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, there has been an undercurrent of antagonism between the minority Serbs and the majority Albanians living in the northern region bordering Serbia.
However, this time the two sides were armed with live ammunition and exchanged fire many times. Serbian President Vucic 26 evening ordered the army and police to enter the highest level of combat readiness. The confrontation between Kosovo region and Serbia has entered a fever pitch.
Why did this conflict break out, and how did it reach the point of tension? It all starts with changing the license plate.
Kosovo has a population of approximately 1.8 million, of which Serbs account for only 5%, while Albanians account for more than 90%. Serbia has always insisted on its sovereignty over Kosovo, and the Serbs do not recognize the Kosovo authorities. However, Kosovo still regards them as a domestic population and requires them to accept jurisdiction.
Therefore, in August this year, the Kosovo authorities issued a decree requiring Serbs to surrender their vehicle license plates issued by Serbia and replace them with "Republic of Kosovo" license plates. Those who do not change will be fined. The Serbs firmly opposed this and launched protests. More than 600 Serb public officials working in the Kosovo authorities announced their collective resignation.
On December 8, Kosovo sent 350 police officers in armored vehicles into Serb-populated areas and blocked the northern area of Mitrovica in Kosovo (where Serbs gather).
On December 10, Kosovo authorities arrested Dejan Pantic, a former Serb policeman suspected of attacking an Albanian police officer during protests, on the grounds of "terrorism". In response, the Serbs have set up more and more roadblocks at key intersections, essentially splitting the area in two and blocking traffic to Pristina, the capital of Kosovo.
Then, Kosovo authorities closed its largest border crossing with Serbia on the 28th.
28, Kosovo, Merdare, Serbian police stand at the closed crossing point between Kosovo and Serbia. Source: Visual China
Serbian President Vucic criticized the West and the Kosovo authorities for conspiring to "cause riots and kill Serbs guarding roadblocks, with the goal of expelling Serbs from Kosovo."
Petkovic, a Serbian government official responsible for contact with Kosovo Serbs, said that those Serbs maintaining roadblocks were only defending their right to exist, and that the state of war readiness was introduced because Kosovo had done the same thing.
Kosovo officials deny that the country has raised its security alert level and accuse Serbia of using the issue to divert attention from the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in order to support Russia. Kurti, the leader of the Kosovo authorities, has asked NATO troops in Kosovo to remove the roadblocks and hinted that he is ready to order military action if NATO does not respond.
Vucic revealed that the West is threatening Serbia to remove the roadblocks. If it does not do so, they will let the Kosovo authorities do whatever they want.
"Okay, we know that you all want to provoke conflicts, kill Serbs, and be happy for the death of Serbs, because for you, maintaining the so-called territorial integrity of Kosovo is more important than maintaining the territorial integrity of Serbia." Vucic said.
Some analysts say that the decades-long dispute caused by ethnic and territorial differences in Kosovo has resurfaced this time, which may trigger a second round of crisis on the European continent after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Will the Balkans powder keg explode again?
The governor of Chang'an Street noted that although the risk of conflict exists, the braking mechanism has not yet failed, and there is still room for dynamic coordination between the two sides.
Serbs say they will remove the roadblocks only if Kosovo meets their demands. Their demands include the release of those detained by Kosovo authorities and the withdrawal and banning of Kosovo police presence in Serb-populated northern areas.
Things are moving quickly. Associated Press 28 reported that Dejan Pantic’s lawyer stated that day that Pantic had been ordered to be released from prison, and the Kosovo High Court decided to replace detention with house arrest.
lawyers believe that the Kosovo police have the obligation to transfer Pantic to the Serb-inhabited area in northern Kosovo where he previously lived. But enforcing the order could be problematic because Kosovar officials would need to pass through Serb roadblocks when transporting Pantic.
Observers said Pantic's move from detention to house arrest could help ease tensions, as his release has been the main Serb demand.
Separately, local elections in Kosovo were scheduled for December 18 in four cities with predominantly Serb populations. Kosovo authorities also postponed elections in the north in light of recent tensions.
The previous "license plate controversy", with the intervention of EU , the Kosovo authorities had to temporarily give up.
28, the European Union and the United States issued a joint statement expressing concern about the situation in northern Kosovo and urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint, take immediate action to ease tensions, and refrain from provocations, threats or intimidation.
Vucic said he is currently negotiating with the EU and the United States to "maintain peace and find a compromise solution" to the current crisis. Serbian Ambassador to the United States Marko Juric said, "Serbia remains committed to the dialogue facilitated by the EU."
The governor of Chang'an Street noted that overall, both sides are still taking the initiative to avoid further escalation of the situation. But in the long run, with the frequent intervention of the West, the turmoil in the region may never end.
Al Jazeera analyzed that the Kosovo War has ended, but the intervention of NATO has left a long-term potential flashpoint in the Balkans. Nearly half of the countries in the world do not recognize Kosovo's independence from Serbia. Ethnic and religious conflicts that can implode at any time have been threatening regional stability. So far, no agreement has been able to solve these problems. Conflicts have occurred repeatedly over the years.
For more than 20 years, Kosovo has been a source of tension between Western countries that support its independence and Russia that supports Serbia. Kosovo authorities have claimed that Russia is behind the recent unrest, which Serbia has called a "vicious lie".
Vucic previously blamed Kosovo for causing tensions and that "a considerable part of the international community was involved" in the Kosovo authorities' plans. Vucic accused the United States of not respecting the agreement reached with Serbia and siding with the Kosovo authorities against Serbia. Vucic said that the United States has raised Kosovo as a "child" for 20 years and is still "protecting" him.
Vucic criticized on the 27th those who followed NATO to trample and seize Serbian territory. Not only do they still want to do so, but they are also "talking nonsense" on the issue of territorial integrity, and their actions violate all agreements including the " United Nations Charter".
Russia also denied Kosovo's accusations on the 28th. Russian Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said: "It is absolutely wrong to expect Russia to exert a destructive influence here. Serbia is a sovereign country. It will naturally protect the rights of Serbs living nearby in such difficult conditions. When these rights are violated, it will naturally respond severely. We support the actions Serbia is taking."
Source: Chang'an Street Governor WeChat Official Account Reporter Liu Xiaoyan
process editor: U022
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