Already strained relations between Kosovo and Serbia have become even sourer, and Serbia has announced that its army is now shifted to combat readiness, writes Politico.
Serbian Defense Minister Miloš Vučević announced on the evening of the 26th of December that the state’s army is now at the highest level of readiness. The statement follows reports by Serbian state media that Kosovo police forces opened fire on protesters while trying to break down barricades set up by ethnic Serbs on the road. Kosovo police deny that such an incident took place.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said he will do everything to protect SERBS and Serbia.
On the 25th of December, shots were also fired in the direction of a NATO peacekeeping operation patrol. There are no casualties and an investigation is currently underway, which will involve the Military Police Unit of the Peacekeeping Operation Contingent along with the Kosovo Police.
The beginnings of the conflict are in the late 1990s when a war was going on in the region, after which Kosovo declared independence in 2008. Serbia does not recognize the sovereignty of its former province. A large part of the ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo also do not recognize the Kosovo government, and the decision made in November to change the registration numbers of cars issued in Serbia has sparked new protests.
On the 26th of December, the Kosovo Security Committee announced that Belgrade is to blame for the growing tension, which promotes opposition to Kosovo’s legislation by various means.
This is not the first time in recent months that the Serbian army has been put on high alert. Previously, this happened in November, when several drones allegedly entered Serbian airspace from the Kosovo side.
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