Last minute: There is tension on the Serbia-Kosovo border. As Kosovo Serbs closed the border crossings with Serbia in the north of the country, sirens were heard in Kosovo. As tensions rose in the region, statements came one after another. During his meeting, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu conveyed to his counterparts that Turkey is ready to do its part to reduce tensions. NATO’s Force in Kosovo (KFOR) announced that they are ready to intervene if stability in northern Kosovo is in danger, while the Kosovo government announced that they postponed the decision with Serbia, which caused the crisis, for a month. On the other hand, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated in a new statement that they will not surrender. Here are the details of the breaking news…
NEW EXPLANATION: WE WILL NOT DELIVERY
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic met with Serbian Chief of General Staff Milan Mojsilovic and the commander of the NATO Force in Kosovo (KFOR) in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia.
Making a statement after the meeting, Vucic stated that they hope to find a solution with Kosovo in the coming period, “I hope we will get good news and this situation will be resolved tomorrow.” said.
Pointing out that the coming weeks and months will be a very difficult political struggle, Vucic said, “I would like to thank those who have dominated themselves, especially the Kosovo Serbs. I want to repeat once again that we will not surrender and Serbia will win.” he said.
STATEMENT FROM NATO
After the events, NATO’s Force in Kosovo (KFOR) announced that it was ready to intervene if stability in northern Kosovo was threatened.
Noting that the security situation in the north of Kosovo is tense, NATO said in a statement, “KFOR is monitoring the situation closely and is ready to intervene if stability is threatened.” expression was used.
Pointing out that KFOR works for freedom of movement for all citizens in Kosovo, the statement said, “KFOR has a visible and strong stance on the ground. KFOR is in contact with all interlocutors.” evaluation was made.
In the statement, it was stated that KFOR supports the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process, “It is important that the dialogue continues. It is important for the peace and security of this region. KFOR will take all necessary measures to ensure peace and security in Kosovo.” statement was included.
KOSOVO GOVERNMENT DEFERRED DECISION
It has been reported that the Kosovo government postponed the decision for a month, which introduced the application of national license plates and identity cards to the Serbs in the country, thus causing the crisis with Serbia.
In the statement made by the Kosovo government, it was stated that the obligation to have a Kosovo ID card and plate for everyone, including Serbs living in Kosovo, which is planned to be implemented tomorrow, has been postponed until 1 September.
Pointing out that the government condemned the Kosovo Serbs’ action to close the border crossings this evening, it was claimed that these were prepared by the Serbian capital, Belgrade.
TELEPHONE DIPLOMACY FROM ÇAVUŞOĞLU
Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu held separate phone conversations with his Serbian counterpart, Selakovic, and his Kosovo counterpart, Schwarz, due to the tension on the border between Serbia and Kosovo.
In the meeting, Minister Çavuşoğlu stated to his interlocutors that Turkey always attaches importance to the peace and stability of the Balkans and conveyed that new tensions in the region do not benefit anyone, that common sense should prevail and that Turkey is ready to do its part to reduce tensions.
VUCIC’S ANNOUNCEMENTS RISE BLESSING
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that Serbs in Kosovo will not tolerate any more persecution.
In his public address, Vucic evaluated the situation of Serbs in Kosovo, saying, “Kosovo Serbs will not tolerate any more persecution.” used the phrase.
Pointing out that he received a promise from Kosovo Serbs that there would be no attack or provocation against Albanians, Vucic noted that this situation “will not change regardless of what the Albanians do”, but that the Serbs will also protect their own homes.
“We will seek peace, but let me tell you, we will not surrender,” Vucic said. he said.
“SERBIA IS NOT A COUNTRY YOU CAN EASILY EAT”
Emphasizing that Serbia has never been in a more complex and difficult situation than it is today, Vucic said that the Pristina administration is constantly trying to present itself as a victim.
Vucic said that Albanians in Kosovo are having problems because of Prime Minister Albin Kurti and that the West would not want any conflict that may occur in Kosovo.
Underlining that his country is not a party that causes conflicts and wants conflict, Vucic said, “Serbia is not a country that you can easily defeat as it was in the time of (Slobodan) Milosevic and (Boris) Tadic.” said.
KOSOVO PRIME MINISTER KURTI BADGETS VUCIC, PRESIDENT OF SERBIA, FOR TENSION
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti made a statement after the tension in Kosovo rose.
Kurti, who held Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Serbia’s Kosovo Representative Petar Petkovic responsible for the tension in the north of Kosovo, asked the Kosovo public not to fall into the trap of Serbian media. Kurti also added, “The days and weeks ahead may be challenging and problematic.” said.
STATEMENT FROM RUSSIA: WE CALL YOU TO RESPECT
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mariya Zakharova touched upon the tension between Kosovo and Serbia and said, “We call on Pristina, the USA and the EU behind it, to stop the provocations and to respect the rights of the Serbs in Kosovo.”
Regarding the tension on the border between Serbia and Kosovo, the Russian Foreign Ministry made a statement and called on the USA and the EU. “The unreasonable decision of the authorities in Pristina to forcibly change the personal information and registration numbers of local Serb residents from 1 August is another step towards the expulsion of the Serb population from Kosovo,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mariya Zakharova said in a statement. Defending that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti does not ignore military scenarios against Serbia, Zaharova said, “The leaders of Kosovo know that when there is a direct attack on their freedom, the Serbs will not be indifferent to this and will deliberately escalate the tension for a military scenario.” Holding the US and the European Union (EU) responsible for the tension in the Balkans, Zakharova said, “We call on Pristina and the US and the EU behind it to stop the provocations and respect the rights of the Serbs in Kosovo.”
PLATE TENSION BETWEEN KOSOVO AND SERBIA
Following the expiration of the free traffic agreement signed between Kosovo and Serbia in 2016, on September 15, the Kosovo government announced that only vehicles with Kosovo license plates would be able to circulate in the country and introduced a temporary license plate requirement for vehicles with Serbian license plates that wish to enter the country. Following the decision taken by Kosovo on the basis of the principle of reciprocity regarding the license plate, tensions rose in the region in the north of the country, where Serbs are densely populated. Protesting the government’s sending of armed special police units to the border gates between Kosovo and Serbia to implement the said decision, the Serbs held a demonstration and blocked the roads leading to the border gates with trucks.
As part of the decision taken by the Serbian administration against not allowing vehicles with Kosovo license plates to pass through Serbia for years, Kosovo does not allow vehicles with Serbian license plates to enter Kosovo, while it gives temporary license plates with a validity of 60 days to vehicles that want to enter Kosovo from Serbia.