The authorities of the semi-recognised Republic of Kosovo, a pro-Albanian breakaway state in southern Serbia, have put off the decision to stop recognising Serbia-issued documents and auto registration plates until 1 September, Albania’s Telegrafi reports.
Vjosa Osmani, the president of Kosovo, and the republic's PM Albin Kurti have had a meeting with Jeff Hovenier, the US ambassador to Kosovo. The republic’s authorities claim they will “clear off the barricades and restore traffic on all roads in North Kosovo” as they thanked their “international partners, including Hovenier, for their commitment.”
The European Commission has welcomed Kosovo’s decision; Josep Borrell expects all roadblocks to be removed immediately, and Serbia and Kosovo to “address issues through EU-facilitated dialogue on comprehensive normalisation of relations.”
The aggravation of the crisis in North Kosovo, a territory claimed by the Republic of Kosovo but populated by ethnic Serbs, happened yesterday evening as the pro-Albanian authorities announced they would not recognise Serbia-issued documents and car registration plates starting 1 August. The local Serbs set up barricades in the streets of Kosovska Mitrovica, a city de-facto separated in half between Serbs and Albanians where gunfire and air sirens could be heard yesterday evening.
Kosovo mobilised all its police units, which prompted Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić to declare that the breakaway republic is preparing an operation against the local Serbs, scheduled around midnight; Kosovo concentrated its SWAT units at border checkpoints.
Vučić held a meeting with Serbia’s General staff and addressed the internationa;l community to help resolve the crisis. The NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) announced they might intervene in maintaining security in North Kosovo should stability be at threat.
Kosovo and Metohija is an autonomous province in southern Serbia, which became home for a significant Albanian population in the late 19th century. Following the 1998-1999 Kosovo War between FR Yugoslavia and the pro-Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army, the local Albanians set up a breakaway state named Republic of Kosovo and declared its independence in 2008. As of today, 97 out of 193 UN member states have recognized Kosovo as an independent country, including the US, the UK, and most of Western European governments. Notable countries which consider Kosovo to be part of Serbia are Russia, China, India, Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Mexico, as well as Ukraine. A total of 15 UN member states have withdrawn their recognition since 2008. The territory of Kosovo and Metohija is mostly controlled by the Republic of Kosovo, although a region called North Kosovo where Serbs are still a majority is controlled by Serbia.
The Republic of Kosovo demanded that Serbian car owners replace their number plates with Kosovan ones last year. This also resulted in local Serbs blocking the checkpoints at Jarinje and Brnjak back then. Serbia announced advance alert military status, and protests broke out in North Kosovo. Last year’s crisis resulted in the sides agreeing on a temporary solution.
