Tensions are rising between ethnic Serbs and the ethnic Albanian-led government in Kosovo, in south-eastern Europe, in connection to a dispute over car license plates. According to CNN, Serb mayors in northern Kosovo municipalities, along with local judges and some 600 police officers, resigned last month in protest over a Kosovo government move to replace Belgrade-issued car license plates with ones issued by Pristina. Kosovo later agreed to postpone the decision and Belgrade said it will stop issuing new Serbian car numbers.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has met his national security council as tensions rise in Kosovo between the authorities there and ethnic Serbs.
In recent weeks, minority Serbs in northern Kosovo have responded with violent resistance to moves by Pristina that they see as anti-Serb. Serb protesters blocked main roads after the arrest of a former Serb policeman and Kosovo police came under small-arms fire in several locations and fired back in response.
On Saturday a stun grenade was thrown at EU police in north Kosovo, where Serbs form a majority, and local police exchanged fire with gunmen. Now, there are fears violence between ethnic Serbs and ethnic Albanians could flare up again, 23 years after the Kosovo war.
Kosovo and Serbia have been locked in a long-standing dispute over Kosovo's independence. The conflict between the two countries can be traced back to the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s. During this period, tensions between the Albanian and Serbian populations in Kosovo escalated, leading to the Kosovo War. The war ended with NATO intervention and the establishment of a UN-led administration in Kosovo. Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, but Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo as a sovereign nation.
Of the 1.8 million people living in Kosovo, 92% are Albanian and 6% are Serbian.
In recent months, tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have escalated, with both sides engaging in military drills and saber-rattling. The situation has sparked concern among other nations and international organizations, who fear that the conflict could escalate into a full-blown war.
The root of the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia lies in the fact that Kosovo is a predominantly Albanian-populated region, while Serbia is a predominantly Serbian-populated country. The Albanian population in Kosovo has long sought independence from Serbia, citing discrimination and repression by the Serbian government.
Since its declaration of independence, Kosovo has been recognized by over 100 UN member states, including the United States and most European countries. However, Serbia, as well as its allies Russia and China, continue to reject Kosovo's independence.
The ongoing dispute has led to tensions between the two countries, including diplomatic clashes and the occasional outbreak of violence. In recent years, there have been efforts to improve relations and resolve the dispute peacefully, but progress has been slow.
One major sticking point in the negotiations is the status of Kosovo's Serb minority. Many Serbs in Kosovo, particularly in the northern regions, reject Kosovo's independence and maintain close ties to Serbia. This has led to ongoing tensions and occasional outbreaks of violence, particularly in the northern city of Mitrovica.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell repeated his call for de-escalation between the two sides. "They have to find a way to end the tendency to fighting in the streets, to creating blockades," he said.
Overall, the tensions between Kosovo and Serbia remain a contentious issue, with no clear resolution in sight. The international community, including the European Union, has been working to facilitate dialogue and find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but conflicts based on ethnic differences tend to drag on for years. It is unlikely this issue will be resolved unless there arises a new generation of leaders devoid of previous biases and attitudes that have for so long prevented a a solution amenable to both sides. Only then, will the people of Kosovo and Serbia have the chance to live peacefully side-by-side.