There was tension between Kosovo and Serbia due to the plate crisis. Sirens were heard in Kosovo as Kosovo Serbs closed the border crossings with Serbia in the north of the country. While the tension in the region was rising, statements came one after another and NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) announced that they were ready to intervene in case the stability in the north of Kosovo was in danger. After the events, the Kosovo government announced that they postponed the decision with Serbia, which caused the crisis, for a month. In the crisis experienced, Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) Foreign Relations and Security Policy, announced that the two countries had reached an agreement.
“WE WILL DISCUSS THE NEXT STEPS”
Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union (EU) Foreign Relations and Security Policy, announced on his social media account that an agreement had been reached in the ‘plate crisis’ between Kosovo and Serbia and said, “Today, we have reached an agreement that will prevent the escalation of tension between Kosovo and Serbia. I am very pleased to announce that as part of EU facilitation, the chief negotiators of Kosovo and Serbia have agreed on measures to avoid further tensions and are fully concentrating on the proposal to normalize their relations. “We will discuss the next steps within the framework of our proposal to normalize relations between the two sides,” he said.
“HE WILL STOP GIVING PLATE”
Thanking Miroslav Lajcak, EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues, and the parties for their ‘hard work’, Borrell said: “Serbia will stop issuing license plates with the name of Kosovo cities and Kosovo will stop other procedures related to re-registration of vehicles . I will invite the parties in the coming days to discuss the next steps,” he said.
SERBIA-KOSOVO ‘CAR PLATE’ CRISIS
Kosovo authorities asked ethnic Serbs in their region to hand over their license plates issued by Serbia, and stated that they should use Kosovo license plates. However, since Serbia did not recognize Kosovo’s independence, the situation caused tension in the region. The EU held a negotiation meeting between Pristina and Belgrade in order not to escalate the tension, but the situation did not reach a solution. Kosovo authorities announced that they would impose a fine of 150 Euros on those who do not deliver the plates.
“NATO CONTINUES TO BE AWARE”
A few days ago, negotiations were held to resolve the crisis between Serbia and Kosovo, and Borrell stated that the result of the meeting was disappointing. Borrell announced that he informed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg about the issue, and Stoltenberg stated that he spoke with Borrell and said, “We are disappointed that it is not possible to resolve the plate dispute. Now is the time for responsibility and pragmatic solutions. Tension should be avoided. NATO KFOR remains vigilant,” he said.
Source: DHA