ZVECAN: NATO on Tuesday announced that it would be sending more forces to northern Kosovo after 30 of its peacekeepers were wounded during clashes with ethnic Serb protesters. Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) called for an immediate de-escalation of tensions and condemned the clashes as “absolutely unacceptable.”
Admiral Stuart Munsch, the commander of the Allied Force Command in Naples, stated that the deployment of additional forces was a precautionary measure to ensure the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) had the necessary capabilities to maintain security. NATO also put an extra multinational battalion of reserve forces on alert to potentially reinforce KFOR if required.
The town of Zvecan in northern Kosovo remained tense on Tuesday, with ethnic Serbs gathering outside the town hall that had been targeted by protesters the previous day. Kosovo police had used tear gas to repel the demonstrators, prompting the intervention of NATO-led peacekeepers. Initially, the soldiers attempted to separate the protesters from the police, but they later resorted to shields and batons in an attempt to disperse the crowd. Some protesters responded by throwing rocks, bottles, and Molotov cocktails at the soldiers.
Many Serbs are demanding the withdrawal of Kosovo police forces, along with the ethnic Albanian mayors they do not consider their legitimate representatives. In April, Kosovo’s ethnic Serb minority boycotted local elections in the north, resulting in ethnic Albanians assuming control of local councils despite a low turnout of less than 3.5 percent.
EU Asks Kosovo and Serbian Leaders to De-escalate Tensions
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell asked the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia to immediately de-escalate tensions. He urged Kosovo’s authorities to stop police operations targeting municipal buildings in northern Kosovo while also urging the ethnic Serb protesters to stand down. Borrell warned that the EU was discussing potential measures to be taken if the parties continued to resist steps toward de-escalation.
According to Serbian President Alexander Vucic, 52 demonstrators were injured during Monday’s clashes, with five Serbs arrested by Kosovo police for their involvement. NATO reported that the injured peacekeepers, hailing from Hungary and Italy, suffered fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices.
Russia, a traditional ally of Serbia, accused the West of spreading “deceitful propaganda” and claimed that the Serbs were peacefully defending their legitimate rights and freedom. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Belgrade and Moscow have refused to recognize it. While Kosovo is predominantly populated by ethnic Albanians, the Serbs, comprising around six percent of the population, have remained loyal to Belgrade, particularly in the northern areas where they form a majority.
The situation in Kosovo remains fragile, and the international community is closely monitoring the developments with concerns about the potential for further violence. Efforts are underway to de-escalate tensions and restore stability in the region.
