In light of the escalating turmoil in their border region, the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) encouraged Kosovo and Serbia to deescalate tensions “immediately” on Wednesday. In a joint statement, the European Union and the United States of America expressed their concern about the ongoing violent situation in the northern part of Kosovo.
After Kosovo closed its busiest border crossing with its northern neighbor, they issued a statement saying, “We appeal on everyone to exhibit greatest caution, to take prompt action to unconditionally deescalate the situation, and to desist from provocations, threats, or intimidation.”
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In order to find a political solution to one of the biggest flare-ups in recent memory in northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serbs make up the majority, the EU and US claimed to be collaborating with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti.
Since hundreds of ethnic Serb police officers, judges, and prosecutors walked off the job in November, northern Kosovo has been on edge. They were opposing a contentious regulation that Pristina subsequently abandoned that forbade Serbs in Kosovo from using license plates issued by Belgrade.
Protesting ethnic Serbs built barricades on December 10 that effectively stopped traffic at two border crossings. Serbian military forces were placed on high alert as a result of several gun incidents that targeted Kosovar police and foreign peacekeepers.
The largest border crossing between the two countries, Merdare, was blocked by dozens of protesters on the Serbian side of the border late on Tuesday, forcing Kosovo police to close the gate on Wednesday.
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The EU and US said in a statement that they had appreciated assurances from Kosovar officials that ethnic Serbs who might have participated in peaceful rallies and building the barricades were not on any arrest list.
