Is a new war breaking out just 500 kilometers from Romania, is the question of Western experts after seeing what happened on Friday. Yesterday, there were violent clashes between special forces and officers. What is actually happening in this country.
Is a new war starting 500 kilometers from Romania? The first violence was recorded
Violent clashes would have taken place, on Friday, between Kosovar special forces and Serbian self-government officers from predominantly Serb communities in northern Kosovo.
The unwanted events took place on Friday and were reported by RTS TV. It must be said that Calafat and Zvecan are 500 kilometers away.
The police were mobilized
According to the information of the television station, the Kosovar special forces resorted to tear gas grenades, especially in the community of Zvecan.
Columns of armored police vehicles also went to the buildings of local self-government bodies in Kosovska Mitrovica, Leposavic and Zubin Potok.
In these localities, sirens were heard, warning the population of a potential danger, so school activity was interrupted. Also, on the way to Leposavic, the residents put up barricades as a sign of protest but also to protect themselves.
Why have these tensions been reached?
The situation in northern Kosovo, which is predominantly inhabited by Serb citizens, has been complicated following the swearing in of new heads of local self-governing bodies, who are of Kosovar Albanian descent.
They took the oath a day before the recent events, namely on Thursday. It should also be noted that the Serbs boycotted the recent municipal elections that took place in the area.
Serbs in northern Kosovo boycotted the elections
Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo decided to boycott local elections organized by Kosovo authorities on Sunday, expressing their disagreement with the ignoring of demands for extended autonomy.
The gesture was an additional signal that the agreement signed between Pristina and Belgrade is not working, according to information presented by Mediafax.
Ethnic and political tensions increased
The latest events have greatly exacerbated ethnic and political tensions in northern Kosovo. Differences between the Kosovo Serb and Albanian communities remain the important source of conflict and instability in the area.
Also, the boycott of municipal elections by Serbs and the swearing in of new Albanian heads of local self-governing bodies widened the divisions and contributed to the problems.
The Serbian president declared a state of alert
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said Monday that local elections organized by Pristina in 4 Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo represented a clear defeat for former Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his government.
He stated that these elections signal significant changes in the province.
Last but not least, President Aleksandar Vučić declared a state of maximum alert for the army on Friday. Thus, army units were directed to the administrative border between Serbia and the autonomous province of Kosovo.
