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KFOR soldiers in Zvecan in northern Kosovo

Photo: ARMEND NIMANI / AFP

The heavy clashes between militant Serbs and NATO security forces in northern Kosovo have further consequences. As the NATO main command JFC Naples announced, additional soldiers are now to be stationed in the region to support the Kosovo Force (KFOR) there.

NATO had instructed the deployment of the operational reserve forces (ORF), it said. The move was taken as a "response to the recent unrest" and the injury of 30 members of KFOR. The ORF would have been in a status according to which they would be ready for action within seven days.

Another, international battalion had been instructed to reduce its deployment time for a mission from fourteen to seven days. This was intended to ensure that the units were ready in case further reinforcements of the KFOR troops were needed.

"The deployment of more NATO forces to Kosovo is a precautionary measure to ensure that KFOR has the capabilities to ensure security in accordance with our mandate from the UN Security Council," said a press release from JFC Naples. The situation in Kosovo is being closely monitored, the main command said.

The commander of the JFC Naples, U.S. Admiral Stuart Munsch, thanked the soldiers involved so far, according to the statement. "I would like to commend KFOR for taking swift, restrained and professional measures that stopped the unrest and saved lives." The violence must end, Munsch demanded.

Dispute over mayoral occupations has been smoldering for weeks

During protests in Zvecan in northern Kosovo on Monday, Italian and Hungarian KFOR soldiers confronted Serbian demonstrators who wanted to storm the city administration. The background to this is a dispute that has been smouldering for some time over the appointment of Albanian mayors in the region, which is inhabited mainly by Serbs.

In northern Kosovo, a total of three mayors of Albanian origin were elected in April. Because almost all Serbs boycotted the election, the election winners come from Albanian parties. The previous Serbian mayors had resigned from their positions in November 2022 in protest against the policies of the Kosovar government.

Serbian protesters gather again

In the course of the riots on Monday, NATO soldiers were attacked with stones, bottles and incendiary devices. The Kosovo police used tear gas. According to KFOR, 19 Hungarian and eleven Italian soldiers were injured in the clashes. On Tuesday, Serbian demonstrators gathered again in front of the city administration in Zvecan. KFOR soldiers erected a metal barrier and prevented hundreds of Serbs from entering the building.

Kosovo, a country of 1.8 million inhabitants with a majority ethnic Albanian population, declared its independence from Serbia in 2008, but is still regarded by Belgrade as a Serbian province. Around 120,000 Serbs live in Kosovo, mainly in the north of the country.

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