Since the arrest of a former Serbian policeman in mid-December, a few hundred people have been holding roadblocks in northern Kosovo, towards two border posts. On Sunday, September 25, tensions escalated further with the appearance of new barricades and a firearm incident.
According to the Serbs, the incident took place as Kosovar forces attempted to dismantle a barricade near Zubin Potok. What the Kosovo police denied. On the other hand, explains the Kosovar Minister of the Interior, a patrol of the Kosovo Peacekeeping Force (Kfor) was allegedly attacked. The UN peacekeeping force was indeed in the area, confirms the local press, but there would have been no injuries or damage. Kfor did not comment.
Responding to Serbian television, General Milan Mojsilovic described the situation as ” complicated and explained that a presence of the Serbian army was now necessary along the ” administrative line term used in Serbia to designate the border with Kosovo. And that the mandate of the army on the spot would be fully implemented, without however detailing the content of the said mandate.
The barricades had been put up after the arrest of a former Serbian policeman on 10 December. The incident stems from the arrest of a former Serbian policeman indirectly from In November, the crisis which opposed the two parties on the question of the registration of the vehicles of the Serbs had required a mediation of the European Union. Serbia refuses to recognize the independence of Kosovo, which is mainly populated by Albanians.
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