Recently, turmoil has revived in Kosovo, and tensions in the region have once again attracted attention. In response to the US special envoy to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, for obstructing Serbia's deployment of troops in Kosovo, Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic (Ana Brnabic) strongly criticized on December 14, local time.
She tweeted: "I see that my friend Escobar is another politician who is staunchly opposed to effective UN Security Council resolutions. He took over the role of the Security Council and, along with himself, the German Foreign Office, and the 'silent' Viola von Cramon (MEP and Rapporteur on Kosovo), unanimously repealed UN Security Council Resolution 1244. ”
Screenshot of the report of the Russian Satellite News Agency
According to a report by the Russian Satellite News Agency on December 14, local time, Escobar, the US special envoy to the Western Balkans, visited Pristina, the capital of Kosovo, on the 13th and held talks with Albin Kurti, the leader of the Kosovo authorities. He told reporters that the United States would not support the deployment of Serbian troops in Kosovo.
Infographic: Escobar, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Western Balkans
Under UN Security Council Resolution 1244, adopted in 1999, Serbia has the right to deploy up to 1,000 security personnel in Kosovo-Metohija if approved by the NATO Force Commander in Kosovo, and these military and police forces will enter Kosovo to maintain order.
In response to the current situation, Serbian President Vučić said on December 10 that the Serbian government would apply to the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo for the deployment of Serbian troops and police in Kosovo. But he also admitted that the Cypriot side will not have any illusions about NATO's response. The British news agency Reuters pointed out that this is the first time since the end of the Kosovo war that Serbia has called for the deployment of security forces in the Kosovo area.
On the 11th, Vučić presided over a meeting of the National Security Council, in which he accused the Kosovo authorities of taking "numerous unilateral actions" of exacerbating tensions and demanded the release of all Serbs arrested in the northern part of the country. Vučić also said that Serbia is willing to seek to reduce current regional tensions.
On December 10, local time, Serbian President Vučić delivered a video screenshot of his national address
In response to Vučić's statement, the leader of the Kosovo authorities, Kurti, on the one hand, said that he did not seek conflict, but sought dialogue and peace, but at the same time still claimed that the "Republic of Kosovo" will resolutely defend itself.
Russian Satellite News Agency reported that on the 12th, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zakharova accused Kosovo authorities of carrying out "a series of provocations" with the connivance of the United States and the European Union, using "ethnically motivated violence" against the remaining Serbs in the region. The leader of the Kosovo authorities, Kurti, tried to divert attention from failed internal policies by playing with fire, fanning hysteria about Serbian phobia and tensions close to armed conflict.
She added that she supports the Serbian government in defending its legitimate rights and interests in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, and that "we stand with Serbian leaders." On the same day, Russian Presidential Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia supports the peaceful efforts of all parties and resolves the current situation through diplomatic means. Peskov also said that we stand for ensuring that all the rights of Serbs are guaranteed.
In recent weeks, the intensity of clashes between Serbs and the Kosovo authorities in northern Kosovo has been intense. The latest round of protests by local Serb residents began on December 10 to protest the arrest by Kosovo authorities of Dejan Pantic, a former Serb policeman.
On December 10, local time, Serb protesters blocked a major road in northern Mitrovica. The picture is from The Paper
In opposition to the "license plate ban" imposed by the Kosovo authorities, Pantić and hundreds of other Serb police officers resigned in November. But police in Pristina arrested Pantić on December 6, saying he was suspected of "assaulting the offices of the Electoral Commission, the police and the election officials."
According to reports, Serb protesters blocked a number of main roads early on the 10th, and the Kosovo Police immediately closed two border crossings with Serbia. During the clashes between the two sides, gunshots were also heard at the protest site. In a statement, the Kosovo Police claimed that police forces had come under fire at several locations close to Serbia and were forced to shoot to disperse protesters for "self-defense" purposes.
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