New Year’s Eve and the tension in Kosovo is peaking. The Serbian armed forces remain on standby while the EU and the US issue a joint statement calling for restraint.
By Athena Papakosta
Former police officer Dejan Pantic, who was arrested in early December on suspicion of terrorism and remanded in custody, is being placed under house arrest in an attempt to de-escalate tensions as his arrest sparked tensions that led to barricades being erected on two border crossing points with Serbia.
Serbian state media and officials described the ex-policeman’s release as a “triumph” for Vucic’s politicians. For his part, Albin Kurti criticized the court’s decision stressing that “I am curious to know who is the prosecutor who made the request and which judge approved the decision to put someone under house arrest while there is an accusation of terrorist act”.
Belgrade put its security troops on high alert on the country’s border with Kosovo demanding an end to “attacks” against Kosovo Serbs. Late on Tuesday night, Serbs set up barricades on one of the main roads connecting Serbia with Kosovo at the Merdare border crossing.
“Placing roadblocks is an illegal and unacceptable move that we will not tolerate,” Kurti emphasized in his statements, adding that “we have given KFOR the time and space it needs to act but, of course, time is running out.” . Pristina has asked the international peacekeeping force NATO to remove the roadblocks and now leaves open the possibility that even Kosovo forces could do so, if they knew KFOR would not react.
The European Union and the United States issued a joint statement calling on “all to exercise maximum restraint, take immediate action to unconditionally de-escalate the situation and refrain from provocation, threats or intimidation”. They even add that both parties are working with Vucic’s Serbia and Kurti’s Kosovo “to find a political solution”.
The NATO force in Kosovo supports the dialogue between the parties to de-escalate the tension. At the same time, Moscow denies claims that it is influencing Serbia to destabilize Kosovo, stressing that Belgrade is simply defending the rights of Serbs.
The head of the Office for Kosovo in the Serbian government, Petar Petkovic, said that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had asked Serbs in northern Kosovo to withdraw the roadblocks. He also stated that the Serbian side is fully covered by the EU-US joint statement providing guarantees for the protection of the Serbian population in Kosovo.
Serbian media reported earlier on Wednesday that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic would travel to the border with Kosovo in the evening for talks with representatives of Serbs living in its northern part. Earlier, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said the road blockade was a “peaceful and democratic” way of protest.
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With a wealth of experience honed over 4+ years in journalism, I bring a seasoned voice to the world of news. Currently, I work as a freelance writer and editor, always seeking new opportunities to tell compelling stories in the field of world news.
