Serbia behind recent attacks: Kosovo PM

SManalysis

Serbs from Kosovo's north have blocked two main roads near the border to protest a government ban.

Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accused neighbour Serbia of "provoking a serious international conflict", with tensions between the two countries at their highest for years.

In the latest flashpoint, two interior ministry offices in northern Kosovo were on Saturday attacked near border crossings blocked by local Serbs angered by a ban on cars with Serbian licence plates entering the country.

The car registration office in the town of Zubin Potok was set ablaze, and two hand grenades were thrown at the civil registration office in the nearby town of Zvecan, though they did not go off, police said.

There was no mention of any casualties.

Serbs from Kosovo's north have blocked two main roads near the border since the government ban went into force on Monday.

Drivers from Serbia must now use temporary printed registration details that are valid for 60 days.

The Kosovo government says its move mirrors measures in force in Serbia against drivers from Kosovo since 2008, when Kosovo declared independence from their neighbour.

Serb fighter planes flew close to border crossing Jarinje where protesters cheered them. A day before, three helicopters also flew in the vicinity.

Media in Belgrade reported that tanks and other military equipment were heading towards the border, but the Serb army did not give any details.

NATO's mission in Kosovo, where peacekeepers maintain a fragile peace, called for restraint.

"Serbia clearly wants to militarise and escalate the situation. It is bringing close to the border Russian-made helicopters and airplanes," Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti told a news conference.

"Serbia is provoking a serious international conflict."

He accused Serbia of "encouraging and supporting" individuals to attack the state of Kosovo.

Kurti has asked Serbia to start recognising Kosovo car licence plates to allow free movement of people and goods.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has said Kosovo should first remove police units sent to the north of Kosovo to help enforce the car plate measures.

The two countries committed in 2013 to a dialogue sponsored by the European Union to try to resolve outstanding issues but little progress has been made.

Kosovo's independence is recognised by some 110 countries including Australia, the United States, Britain and most Western states, but not by Russia, Serbia's traditional ally, and five EU member states.

Australian Associated Press

War situation between Albania and Serbia for Kosovo

SManalysis

A fuse has been placed between Belgrade and Tirana, because both countries protect the interests of their populations in Kosovo.

Belgrade has stated that the army has returned to the border with Kosovo, due to the violation of freedoms and rights of Serbs in Kosovo, who are violated by the Kosovo government, while Tirana, today stated that Kosovo Albanians are also Albanian citizens ( !) and the country, a member of NATO, has the right to protect it with the Constitution.

In Kosovo, today the Albanians there, learned that they are also citizens of Albania, while the government of Tirana, has made them, with its decision a year ago. But they did not know because even in the political elections in Albania, a few months ago, they were voters of the list of 3.5 million voters in Albania, but did not come to vote because of the pandemic.

This is a new innovation, that the Prime Minister of Albania, a member of NATO, Edi Rama, is also the Prime Minister of the Albanians of Kosovo and even the representation of the Albanians of Kosovo, will be led by Edi Rama (and not Albin Kurti). According to this solution, then the Belgrade-Tirana tension can be turned into a dialogue for the partition of Kosovo.

But rising tensions over the conflict in Kosovo could add to a series of actions and tensions in the Balkans, a situation which could be accompanied by nationalist outbursts, new conflicts even if American and British troops are in the region, especially in Albania, several thousand . The diplomatic scene but also the force remains open let us see to what extent the use of force will be avoided or not.

B92: Rama attacks Serbia from Pristina: "You're defeated on the battlefield" 

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama attacked Serbia after meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti in Pristina.

SOURCE: B92, KOSOVO ONLINE MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2021 | 11:42

EPA-EFE/VALDRIN XHEMAJ

He accused Serbia of "making theatrical maneuvers in the north of Kosovo", reports Gazeta Express.

"There is no doubt that in the first place, and above all, Serbia must recognize this irreversible reality, and it is really unfortunate that instead of concrete progress in dialogue towards mutual recognition and final reconciliation with the past, today we are witnessing Serbia's theatrical military maneuvers on the border with sovereign state of Kosovo", Rama said.

According to him, "these maneuvers do not actually protect the Serbs in the north of Kosovo, as the official Belgrade leadership claims, with the support of some ghosts of generals of the defeated army on the battlefield, more than 20 years ago, who seem to have come out of the grave claiming to protect integrity and the security of Serbian citizens in Kosovo".

He referred to the actions of Serbs in the north theatrical maneuvers, while he also mentioned that the Government of Kosovo paid for electricity for Serbs in the north.

"In fact, Serbian citizens in Kosovo live without any threat, and it is even said that the government of this country paid their electricity bills, which no one does anywhere, not only in the Balkans, but also worldwide," Rama said.