Kosovo has closed its main border crossing with Serbia after Serbs erected barricades there. One of the worst crises in recent years in this region where Moscow supports Belgrade against NATO.
In Kosovo, the cult of the United States
The United States and the European Union called on Wednesday 28 December for a “unconditional de-escalation”. Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic ruled last week that the situation was “on the brink of armed conflict”.
“We call on everyone to show maximum restraint”added the US State Department and EU diplomacy in a joint statement.
Merdare border post closed
Several hundred Kosovo Serbs have erected roadblocks in northern Kosovo since December 10 to protest against the arrest of a former Serbian policeman, paralyzing traffic to two border crossings with Serbia.
Kosovo police and international peacekeepers then suffered several attacks involving firearms, as Serbia put its armed forces on high alert.
By Tuesday evening, dozens of protesters on the Serbian side of the border had blocked traffic with trucks and tractors towards Merdare, the main border crossing, leading Kosovo to close the crossing.
“This illegal roadblock has prevented the free movement of people and goods, therefore we invite our citizens and compatriots to circulate through the other border posts”police said in a statement.
Pristina also called on the NATO peacekeeping forces (Kfor) to clear the barricades.
A “peaceful” means of protest for Serbia
Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic claimed on Wednesday that the blocking of roads was a means of protest “democratic and peaceful”and that Belgrade was keeping its line of communication open with Western diplomats to resolve this crisis.
Serbia does not recognize the independence of its former southern province, populated overwhelmingly by Albanians, which it had proclaimed in 2008. It encourages the 120,000 Serbs in Kosovo to challenge the local authorities, at a time when Pristina wants to establish its sovereignty over the whole territory.
At the beginning of November, hundreds of Serbian police officers integrated into the Kosovo police, as well as judges, prosecutors and other officials left their posts en masse.
They were thus protesting against a decision, now suspended, of the Pristina government to prohibit Serbs living in Kosovo from using registration plates issued by Serbia.
Moscow supports Belgrade
Berlin expressed concern on Wednesday about “very bad signal” given by the reinforced Serbian military presence on the border, denouncing the “nationalist rhetoric” from Belgrade.
“Kosovo Serbs should immediately remove these barricades in Kosovo and Serbia has a special responsibility in this regard and should work for the immediate removal of these barricades”German Foreign Ministry spokesman Christofer Burger said.
Russia for its part, and conversely, reaffirmed its support for Belgrade in this crisis.
“We have very close allied, historical and spiritual relations with Serbia”Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, adding that Russia was following “very carefully what is happening and how the rights of Serbs are ensured”.
“And, of course, we support Belgrade in the actions it takes”he pointed out.
