Protests continue by Serbs in northern Kosovo, demanding the withdrawal of police forces from public buildings, what are the facts and backgrounds of the ongoing conflict in northern Kosovo? What were the reasons for the clashes?
The demonstrations, which erupted in predominantly Serb areas, declare their refusal to appoint mayors who won municipal elections boycotted by Serbs on the order of Belgrade authorities in neighboring Serbia, a tension that Washington and Western capitals have called for an end to as the government sticks to its measures.
There have also been calls for immediate action to end the escalating tension between them, but the fact that the Serbs and the Kosovo government are sticking to their position suggests that the problem has deep roots in the dispute that marred the recent municipal elections.
What are the roots of the disagreement?
In this context, Aiden Heher, professor of international relations at the University of Westminster and researcher in the Balkans, attributed the cause of the violence to the long dispute between Serbia, which considers Kosovo part of its territory, while the latter declared its independence in 2023 with the recognition of most countries of the world, but Serbia refused to do so and tried to interfere continuously in the internal affairs of Kosovo.
He pointed out that America held the government of Kosovo responsible for the tension of events, considering it sad that Washington, France and some other countries take a stand against the government of Kosovo, stressing that Serbia was the first to attack, while America plays a double game through which it proves that the two countries are failures and cannot resolve the conflict between them.
For his part, Giorgio Froshon, a researcher specializing in Balkan affairs at the Italian Institute for Political and International Studies, did not expect events to develop into a new war in Europe, given the lack of the two countries on the capabilities and military budget for this, explaining that the confrontation would be a military suicide for Serbia.
He attributed this to the fact that Kosovo has the largest force of NATO, but on the diplomatic side, both sides lack support from their partners, and even Russia cannot intervene and support the conflict militarily, considering that the conflict between the two parties will not develop into war, especially since it is long-term.
Serbian protests
Tensions in northern Kosovo escalated at the end of July after the authorities passed a law requiring residents to obtain identity cards issued by the country, and to replace car plates coming from Serbia with plates issued by Kosovo.
While Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti commented on the wave of Serbian protests by saying power in Kosovo could be gained through elections rather than violence, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said the withdrawal of new mayors in northern Kosovo was the most important step to stem tensions.
But the move has yet to be taken amid warnings from Kosovo's interior ministry not to blow the flames of escalation, calling calls on social media for Albanian nationalists to demonstrate in the northern town of Mitrovica suspicious.