Kosovo’s Foreign Minister said that Serbia wanted to create facts to force Kosovo to negotiate territorial issues in Brussels. “Fortunately, the attempt failed eight days ago, but we don’t know what the plans are for the future.” She therefore called on the EU to freeze Serbia’s status as a candidate country and stop cash payments. Serbia’s actions resemble those of Russia before the invasion of Ukraine.
On Thursday, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani blamed its northern neighbor Serbia and its president Aleksandar Vucic for the escalation of violence in northern Kosovo, which is predominantly inhabited by Serbs. Serbia still has territorial claims over Kosovo and is trying to implement a “Crimean model,” she said, alluding to Russian actions in Ukraine.
Attack on Kosovo police
About a week ago, 30 armed and masked men opened fire on Kosovo police officers in a village not far from the border with Serbia. According to police, one officer and three attackers died in the exchange of gunfire. Since the incident, there have been reports of Serbian troop concentrations at the border.
According to information from Kosovo on Monday, Serbian paramilitaries had trained on Serbian territory. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti published drone footage purportedly showing these exercises. The Serbian aggressors took the drone images themselves and the Kosovo police seized them along with the weapons, explained Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla, according to the Kosovo newspaper “Koha Ditore”.
KFOR troops will be increased
NATO plans to increase its presence in the Western Balkan country due to the attack on Kosovo police officers. There are currently around 3,400 KFOR soldiers stationed in Kosovo, including several hundred members of the Federal Army. Serbia has recently repeatedly called for an increase in KFOR troops.
The president of the Defense Committee of the German Bundestag, Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann (FDP), highlighted that the number could be increased. “According to the (Bundestag) mandate, the maximum personnel limit is 400 soldiers,” she told editorial network Germany (RND).
Serbia: Troops reduced on the border
Serbia has withdrawn some troops stationed near the border, according to army chief General Milan Mojsilovic. “Serbia had 8,350 soldiers stationed near the border with Kosovo and has currently reduced this number to 4,500,” Mojsilovic said in Belgrade on Monday. He added that the army’s presence had “returned to normal” in the “land security zone”, a five-kilometre-wide strip inside Serbia along the border with Kosovo. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had already asked the Serbian side to withdraw troops.
Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic emphasized on Monday that Serbia has nothing against KFOR troops. If President Vucic orders the army to move into Kosovo, “the army would do it too – the task would be carried out efficiently, professionally and successfully,” Vucevic said. With the Kosovo conflict, Vucic can divert attention from the growing domestic political pressure caused by the ongoing protest movement. There will be parliamentary elections in Serbia in December.
Consequence of the collapse of Yugoslavia
Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008. The state is not recognized by the Belgrade government or the Serb minority in Kosovo. More than 90 percent of Kosovo’s population are ethnic Albanian. In the north of the country, however, Serbs constitute the majority.
Both Western Balkan countries are striving to join the EU. This made it clear that admission is only possible if both governments resolve their differences. Both states have committed to this. But a Serb invasion of Kosovo will likely destroy the country’s EU ambitions.