In recent days, the security situation in Kosovo has been on alert, as Serbs - the majority in some northern localities - clashed with police to protest against new Albanian mayors on May 26.
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| KFOR soldiers clash with protesters at the entrance to Zvecan city hall, Kosovo, May 26. (Source: Reuters) |
Serbs, who are in the majority in parts of northern Kosovo, boycotted local elections in April, while Albanian candidates won mayoral elections there.
Serbs are demanding that Kosovo authorities not let the Albanian mayor take office and allow the old local government to return to office.
On May 26, police escorted three new mayors to local town halls to take office as many Serbs gathered in front of the buildings to protest.
In Zvecan, these people tried to break through the security fence to enter the building, causing Kosovo police to use tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Meanwhile, in the town of Leposavic near the Serbian border, US peacekeepers in riot gear placed barbed wire around the town hall to protect the area from hundreds of angry Serbs gathered nearby.
NATO peacekeeping forces also blockaded the town hall in Zubin Potok and set up security fences around the two town halls.
According to the announcement of the NATO Peacekeeping Mission (KFOR) on May 29, about 25 Italian and Hungarian soldiers of this unit were injured in clashes with the Serbs.
KFOR noted that these "unprovoked attacks are unacceptable and KFOR will continue to carry out its mission."
In that context, on the same day, May 26, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic put the country's army on full combat alert and ordered units to move closer to the border with Kosovo.
Many countries and international organizations have strongly condemned the clashes between police and protesters in northern Kosovo.
On May 26, a spokesperson for the European Union (EU) stressed "deep regret" over the attacks, and called on all parties to take immediate action to reduce tensions and restore calm immediately.
The EU affirms that it will not accept any further unilateral or provocative actions and that maintaining peace and security on the ground must be a priority.
On the same day, in a joint statement posted on the British government's website, five countries including France, Italy, Germany, the US and the UK criticized the Kosovo government's decision to use force when approaching urban buildings in northern Kosovo despite calls for restraint.
Also on May 26, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized the Kosovo government's actions as going against the recommendations of Washington and Europe, escalating tensions strongly and unnecessarily.
According to Mr. Blinken, Kosovo's move "undermines international efforts to help normalize Kosovo-Serbia relations and will have consequences for the bilateral relations of each country that wants to help Kosovo."
On May 28, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Kosovo to de-escalate tensions with Serbia and "not to take unilateral, destabilizing steps."
On May 29, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell expressed concern about the clashes, saying that the violence against KFOR forces was "completely unacceptable" and called on all parties to de-escalate tensions "immediately and unconditionally".
On the same day, May 29, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that tensions between Kosovo and Serbia could lead to "a major explosion in the heart of Europe... The situation is very alarming."
Meanwhile, on May 30, the French Foreign Ministry announced that immediately restoring stability in northern Kosovo is important for European security.
"It is more necessary than ever that Serbia and Kosovo show responsibility by returning to the negotiating table with a compromising attitude for the peace and prosperity of their peoples," ministry spokeswoman Anne-Claire Legendre said in a statement.
She also called on both sides, especially the authorities in Kosovo, to immediately take the necessary steps to de-escalate tensions.
"We cannot accept that the stability of the region is threatened in the current serious international context. It is a matter of European security," the French official stressed.
On the Serbian side, on the same day, the Office of President Aleksandar Vucic announced that the leader plans to meet with the ambassadors of the United States, Russia, China, Britain and the head of the EU office in Serbia to discuss the incident.
Mr Vucic will then have separate meetings with the ambassadors of Finland, Russia and China.
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The territory has a population of about 1.8 million, 90% of whom are ethnic Albanians. About 120,000 ethnic Serbs living in northern Kosovo do not recognize this government and are politically loyal to Serbia.
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