Kosovo under the Serbian flag: the essence of the next round of tension in the region

“Let’s show how much we love Serbia”

Sunday, November 6, is the day of the big rally for Kosovo Serbs. The reason for the meeting was a new escalation in the region. The day before, Kosovo Serbs withdrew from all institutions of power in protest against the controversial actions of Pristina in relation to car numbers and the Serbs themselves.

On the morning of November 6, four municipalities in northern Kosovo and Metohija held special assemblies where the mayors of several cities (Leposavić, North Mitrovica, Zvecan and Zubina Potok) officially resigned. This was reported by the Serbian newspaper Blic.

Thus, representatives of four local governments in the north of Kosovo and Metohija began to implement the Saturday decision on the withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from all institutions of power. And if yesterday it was only an announcement, now everything has turned into real actions.

Recall that on Saturday a meeting of representatives of the Serbs took place in Zvecan. The chairman of the Serbian List party, Goran Rakic, said after the meeting: “We have decided to leave all political institutions, parliament, government and four municipalities in northern Kosovo, as well as to suspend the presence and work of Serbs in the judiciary and police.”

The result was not long in coming. On the same day, the police defiantly took off their Kosovo uniforms, effectively leaving the north of the region without the protection of law enforcement agencies. According to the Serbian media, political representatives have already left the Kosovo government. But the departure of the police is an unprecedented thing. They did not believe that this would happen, and in Pristina itself. Note that in the northern part of Kosovo and Metohija there are as many as four police stations and a regional police department. They obeyed the authorities of the unrecognized Kosovo.

The question arose: who will now be responsible for security in the north? As Blic pointed out, under the current state of affairs, a KFOR force (a NATO-led international force) will almost certainly be sent. This, however, is not surprising. Members of the EULEX (European Union Special Mission of 2,000 civilians and law enforcement officials) can also join them. In fact, the approval of the deployment of this mission in Kosovo took place as early as February 2008. However, this is still only an assumption, since there is a very dangerous moment.

The decision to deploy a police contingent in Kosovo without the consent of the Serbian government is contrary to the text of UN Security Council Resolution No. 1244. If we completely simplify the entire complex history of the Mission’s relationship directly with official Belgrade, then the conflict of interest is in the first place here. And this is closely linked to the uncertain status of Kosovo. As far as EULEX is now possible, nothing can be ruled out in this region. But, in the case of the introduction of this Mission, the already explosive situation may become even more terrible.

In general, the origins of the new escalation come down to one thing – the change of license plates. In early August, the whole world was already watching the conflict on this basis. But the Pristina authorities then agreed to postpone the decision to re-register license plates with the designations “KM” (that is, “Kosovo and Metohija” – which official Belgrade insists on) to “RKS” (directly Kosovo symbols). But since November, everything has resumed, and Pristina began issuing warnings to Kosovo Serbs for not changing their numbers. Later, they will begin to fine for a similar “violation” by 150 euros. From April 21, numbers without the abbreviation RKS may be confiscated. The director of the “Northern Regional Police Department” Nenad Dzhuric, this prospect was clearly not to his liking. He announced that Serbian police officers would not comply with the decision of the interim government in Pristina to issue warnings to drivers with the abbreviation “KM” on their license plates. The authorities of the unrecognized Kosovo then removed him from office for such stubbornness. This, in general, was the impetus for the withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from all institutions of power. And Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic even supported Djuric, who was ousted from office, because in fact this whole situation is a gross violation of the Brussels agreement. Such action by Pristina cannot be implemented without the consent of the representatives of the four Serbian municipalities in the north of the region.

The efforts of the international community now do not seem to be able to put the situation on a peaceful footing. The head of EU diplomacy Josep Borrell on Saturday evening hastily spoke with Vučić and Prime Minister of the Republic of Kosovo Albin Kurti. The politician called on both sides to refrain from any unilateral action that could lead to further tension.

“Recent developments in relations between Kosovo and Serbia are jeopardizing years of hard work and achievements in the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, mediated by the EU, and complicating the situation in the region and beyond,” Borrell said.

But, judging by the reaction of the authorities, no constructive dialogue is expected. Pristina accuses Belgrade of forcing the Kosovo Serbs into an act of withdrawal from all political institutions. Belgrade, for its part, demands that Pristina comply with the agreements.

Be that as it may, a rally was scheduled for Sunday in North Mitrovica. Since Friday evening, the city has been decorated with Serbian flags. The Serbian List party called on everyone to come to this event, “from where we will unequivocally and unanimously tell Europe and the world that our only country is Serbia and President Aleksandar Vucic! Let’s show how much we love Serbia!”

And people showed their attitude to it. As noted by the Serbian publication Politika, in Leposavić and other cities in the north of the Republic, where Kosovo Serbs compactly live, Serbian flags flutter on the terraces of houses, on the windows. Everything and everything is ready to demonstrate national unity and commitment to a single state. And it’s good if after that both sides adhere to the words of Vučić: “We do not deviate from the responsible policy of peace and stability.”