Serbian troops on alert on Kosovo border as tensions mount

23 September 2021, 17:44

Kosovo Serbia Tensions
Kosovo Serbia Tensions. Picture: PA

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo blocked the border for a fourth straight day to protest about Kosovo authorities removing Serbian car licence plates.

Serbia has raised the combat readiness of its troops on the border with Kosovo.

This comes amid increasing tensions with its breakaway former province, the Serbian defence minister said.

Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo were blocking the border for a fourth straight day to protest about a decision by Kosovo authorities to start removing Serbian licence plates from cars entering the country.

Hungary Demographic Summit
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. (Laszlo Balogh/AP)

There are fears the latest incidents could unleash deeper tensions between the two Balkan foes.

Kosovo has deployed its special police force to the predominantly ethnic Serb-populated area of Kosovo to enforce the new rule. Serbia itself has for years been taking off registration plates from Kosovo-registered cars entering Serbia and Kosovo officials say the new rule is a tit-for-tat measure.

Serbian media reported that three Serb protesters had been severely beaten by Kosovo policemen, a claim vehemently denied by Kosovo authorities.

Belgrade described the alleged incident as use of “brutal force”. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he was “concerned” and warned that violence was unacceptable.

“We have made clear what are the boundaries by which we will tolerate violence by (Kosovo Prime Minister) Albin Kurti and his special forces,” state Serbian RTS TV quoted Vucic as saying.

“Both the Europeans and Americans know that. We have said very precisely what our next moves will be, and in which order they will be made,” he said.

Serbia is unlikely to intervene militarily in Kosovo, where thousands of international peacekeepers have been deployed since the 1998-99 war that stopped a bloody Serb crackdown against ethnic Albanians.

Still, Serbian Defence Minister Nebojsa Sefanovic, inspecting troops on the border, said Serbia stands ready to protect its citizens.

“Our army is not provoking, but it’s ready to protect its people,” Mr Sefanovic said.

The war in Kosovo ended after a NATO intervention, and Kosovo declared independence in 2008. It has been recognised by the US and other Western nations, but not by Serbia and its allies Russia and China.

The European Union and the US have urged Kosovo and Serbia to exercise restraint.

By Press Association

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Australia Cyber Safety

Google, Meta and others face questions in Australia over cyber extremism threats

United Nations Nuclear Weapons

US and Japan seek UN resolution banning nuclear weapons in outer space

Election 2024 Trump

‘Impossible’ for Trump to post civil fraud bond of £356m, say lawyers

Georgia Election Indictment Lawmakers

Trump seeks to appeal against decision not to disqualify DA in Georgia case

Mike Lynch court case

Fallen tech star Mike Lynch painted as fraud mastermind in Hewlett-Packard trial

Russia Crimea

Putin extends rule in Russian election after harshest crackdown since Soviet era

Vacationing Mom Toddler Death

Ohio woman given life after child died when she left her alone to go on holiday

Transgender Athletes Ban New York Caitlyn Jenner

Caitlyn Jenner backs New York county’s ban on transgender female athletes

A Mayor Eric Adams standing on a stage in front of an audience engaging them with a speech

New York mayor Eric Adams accused of sexually assaulting woman in 1993

Biden Netanyahu

Netanyahu agrees to send officials to US to discuss prospective Rafah operation

Palestinians rush to collect the humanitarian aid airdropped into Gaza City, Gaza Strip on March 17 (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

‘Famine imminent’ in northern Gaza as 70% face ‘catastrophic hunger’

Music-Country Hall of Fame

James Burton, John Anderson and Toby Keith join Country Music Hall of Fame

Russia Election

What the Russian election reveals about Putin’s rule

Obit-Stafford

Astronaut Thomas Stafford, commander of Apollo 10, dies aged 93

Montenegro US

US envoy visits Montenegro to support EU bid as war in Ukraine rages on

APTOPIX Haiti Violence

At least 12 killed as gangs unleash fresh attacks in Haiti’s capital