NATO soldiers on guard in Kosovo Serb town after clashes
WORLD 30 May 2023 - 15:00
Dozens of NATO troops secured a municipal building in the Kosovo town of Zvecan on May 30, a day after 30 NATO soldiers and 52 Serb protesters were injured in clashes that EU and NATO officials said were unacceptable as they urged calm.
Kosovo police said in a statement that the situation is "fragile, but calm", Reuters reports.
Unrest in the region has intensified since ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo's Serb-majority area after the April elections the Serbs boycotted a move that led the US and its allies to rebuke Pristina on May 26.
The area's majority Serbs have never accepted Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia, and consider Belgrade their capital more than two decades after the Kosovo Albanian uprising against repressive Serbian rule.
Ethnic Albanians make up more than 90 per cent of the population in Kosovo as a whole, but northern Serbs have long demanded the implementation of an EU-brokered 2013 deal for the creation of an association of autonomous municipalities in their area.
Serbs refused to take part in local elections in April and ethnic Albanian candidates won the mayoralties in four Serb-majority municipalities - including North Mitrovica - with a 3.5 per cent turnout.
Several ethnic Serbs gathered in front of the building in Zvecan but the situation was calm, a Reuters reporter said, as soldiers from the United States, Italy and Poland stood by in anti-riot gear.
A Kosovo police source who asked not to be named told Reuters bulldozers were heading north, ready to remove any barricades set by Serbs.
Kosovo authorities have blamed Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for destabilising Kosovo. Vucic blames Kosovo authorities for causing problems by installing new mayors.
"In a democracy, there is no place for fascist violence—no appeal from the ballot to bullet," Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Twitter late on Monday.
In a statement after meeting ambassadors of the so-called Quint group - the United States, Italy, France, Germany and Britain - in Belgrade, Vucic said he had asked that Albanian mayors are removed from their offices in the north.
Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani said criminal gangs, supported by Vucic, aim to destabilize Kosovo and the entire region.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Critical F-35 upgrade deferred, 2024 production slashed by 27-50%
01 May 2024 - 09:05
|
2
|
Armenian Church sparks controversy amid handover of villages to Azerbaijan Unrest & dissent in Armenia
30 April 2024 - 18:02
|
3
|
Mr Fouks - the servant of too many masters How much does the reputation cost?
29 April 2024 - 17:15
|
4
|
French journalist's hunger strike in Yerevan airport over politically driven entry ban Why are Armenia's friends silent?
29 April 2024 - 12:41
|
5
|
"Terror has always been the favourite tool of Kocharyan and Dashnaks" Armenian pundit on Caliber.Az
29 April 2024 - 14:30
|
These tricks make wind farms more bird-friendly
02 May 2024 - 01:03
Europeans have more time, Americans more money
Which is better?01 May 2024 - 23:01
Iran's supreme leader says Palestine must be returned to its true owners
01 May 2024 - 21:02
BRICS de-dollarization threatens US economy, JP Morgan CEO predicts
01 May 2024 - 20:49
Azerbaijani president welcomes Iraqi Parliament Speaker, highlights bilateral cooperation & intercultural dialog
01 May 2024 - 20:38
Why is Bob ‘Gold Bars’ Menendez still sitting in US Senate?
01 May 2024 - 20:33
Maltese National Commission: Azerbaijan achieves significant progress over past 20 years
01 May 2024 - 20:19
Azerbaijani premier meets Malaysian Parliament Senate president
01 May 2024 - 20:10
Azerbaijan continues clearing Karabakh of mines
01 May 2024 - 20:02
UAE takes precautions ahead of expected storm
01 May 2024 - 19:47
Azerbaijani president meets UN Assistant Sec-Gen for Rule of Law & Security Institutions
01 May 2024 - 19:36
US ex-president: Israel having most sophisticated equipment could prevent October 7 attack
01 May 2024 - 19:31
ICESCO Director-General invited to COP29
01 May 2024 - 19:22
Minister: Agro sector greatly important in Azerbaijan's economy
01 May 2024 - 19:14
Interreligious dialog key focus at VI World Forum in Baku
Combating radicalism & protecting sacred sites01 May 2024 - 19:05
UN chief urges Israel to prevent tragedy in Rafah
01 May 2024 - 18:56
Azerbaijani Special Forces adopt anti-drone systems for enhanced defense
01 May 2024 - 18:28
Russian air defence forces shoot down 29 Ukraine drones
01 May 2024 - 18:25
Turkey explores joining lawsuit against Israel initiated by South Africa
01 May 2024 - 18:16
European Parliament calls for stripping Georgia of EU candidate status
01 May 2024 - 18:07
Azerbaijani FM, UNESCO reps discuss COP29, regional situation
01 May 2024 - 17:50
Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan sign memorandum of cooperation on interconnection of energy systems
01 May 2024 - 17:41
Paris & Baku trade barbs amid escalating tensions
Geopolitical showdown01 May 2024 - 17:39
Official COP29 website appears
01 May 2024 - 17:34
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan to expand cooperation in several spheres
01 May 2024 - 17:22
UN official: Everyone should make efforts to establish peace accross globe
01 May 2024 - 17:16
Indonesia volcano eruption spreads ash to Malaysia, shutting airports
01 May 2024 - 16:59
Azerbaijani president welcomes delegation of North Caucasus muftis
PHOTO/UPDATED01 May 2024 - 16:57
Bitcoin price dips below $58,000 first time in two months
01 May 2024 - 16:44
Foreign military attachés visit Azerbaijan's Higher Military School, gain insight into operations
01 May 2024 - 16:28
Israel is ready to launch operation in Rafah
Make or break?01 May 2024 - 16:15
Iraq sets up military bases on border with Türkiye
01 May 2024 - 16:11
Hungary against Armenia’s militarisation
Budapest’s justice01 May 2024 - 15:54
Trump hints at potential political violence if not elected in November
01 May 2024 - 15:37
COP29 participants to have easier entry to Azerbaijan
01 May 2024 - 15:28
UN rep applauds Azerbaijan-Armenia border agreements at World Forum
01 May 2024 - 15:19
Scandal, bullying and iconoclasm: How MEPs lost their political way
Euronews article on EU policy01 May 2024 - 15:01
Director General: ICESCO proud of its cooperation with Azerbaijan
01 May 2024 - 14:45
Ukrainian drones hit Ryazan Oil Refinery, sparking fire
VIDEO01 May 2024 - 14:31
Kazakh leader welcomes Baku, Yerevan's decision to hold peace talks in Almaty
01 May 2024 - 14:16