Switzerland is “concerned” by the resurgence of tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, marked by the “erection of barricades” (in northern Kosovo). It invites the two parties to take measures without delay with a view to de-escalation.
By expressing its concern on Twitter on Monday, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) is going in the same direction as France, which is also worried regarding the situation there. It should be noted that the Kosovars represent one of the largest foreign minorities in Switzerland, with some 115,000 nationals, a number which is constantly increasing.
The French Foreign Ministry also said it was “very concerned” regarding the heightened tensions in northern Kosovo, and in particular the “unacceptable” attack once morest EU security forces on Saturday night see you on Sunday.
Barricades
European Union police deployed in the region as part of the EULEX mission said they were targeted by a stun grenade, which caused no injuries in its ranks.
Tensions, already regular in the region, have increased with the approach of local elections in municipalities with a majority population of Serbs. To the point that Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani announced on Saturday a postponement to April 23 of the elections originally scheduled for December 18 and that the main Serbian party said it wanted to boycott.
Meanwhile, hundreds of Kosovo Serbs, protesting once morest the arrest of a former police officer, erected barricades on a road in the north of the country on Saturday and Sunday, blocking traffic at two important border crossing points with Serbia.
Several hours following the roadblocks were put in place, police said they suffered three successive attacks with firearms on Saturday evening on one of the roads leading to the border.
In its press release, France reiterated its support for European mediation between Serbia and Kosovo, which should make it possible to “progress towards a global agreement” and urged “the two parties to recommit to dialogue”.
Call from Moscow
Moscow, for its part, called for settling tensions between Serbia and Kosovo by “diplomatic means” following attacks targeting the police. Moscow, also demanding that the rights of Serbs be “guaranteed”. Russia is a close supporter of Belgrade due to ancient historical and religious ties.
The former Serbian province of Kosovo, mostly populated by Albanians, declared its independence in 2008. This independence was recognized by the United States and the majority of EU countries but not by Belgrade, which encourages the Serbian majority from northern Kosovo to challenge the authority in Pristina.
The former Serbian province of Kosovo, the scene of a war in the late 1990s between the Yugoslav army and Kosovar separatists in which NATO got involved, declared its independence in 2008.
This proclamation of independence was not recognized by Belgrade which encourages the Serb majority in northern Kosovo to challenge the authority of Pristina.
The Serbs number approximately 120,000 out of a total Kosovo population of some 1.8 million people, the overwhelming majority of Albanian origin.
This article has been published automatically. Source: ats
