Explosions and sirens are heard in Kosovo
According to local media, explosions and sirens were heard in municipalities in the north, where work on early local elections began, after the Serbs withdrew from local institutions due to recent events in terms of enrollment.
The sound of sirens was reportedly heard in Zveçan, and forces affiliated with the European Union (EU) Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) increased the presence of the Iberian bridge connecting the southern and northern sides of the city. from Mitrovica.
Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ) officials were said to have accompanied the Kosovo police to their offices in the north, but were unable to enter there.
KQZ offices in the north of the country were closed for security reasons after the resignation of Serb officials.
In Kosovo, early local elections will be held in 4 municipalities on December 18 and elections for the Zvecan and Leposavic municipal councils on December 25.
Kosovo Serbs announced on November 5 that they were withdrawing from Kosovo’s central and local institutions due to recent events related to tuition fees.
The Serbian List Party’s decision to resign from Kosovo’s institutions was made after the director of the Kosovo Police Commission Northern Area, Nenad Djuric, who refused to implement this decision, was dismissed after the Kosovo government to start the process of converting the license plates issued to Serbs. in the country to the registration plates “RKS” (Republic of Kosovo) by the Serbian authorities.
KOSOVO-SERBIAN TENSION
In late July, the Kosovo government announced that decisions regarding the “issuance of temporary declaration forms for those entering or leaving Kosovo with Serb identity documents” and “the conversion of license plates issued by the Serbian authorities to Serbs in Kosovo to the Republic of Kosovo license plates” shall enter into force in accordance with the principle of reciprocity with Serbia.
Serbs in Kosovo reacted to this by closing border crossings in the north of the country, and tensions rose in the country.
The Kosovo government decided to postpone the execution, which caused the crisis, until 1 September, provided that all barricades placed on the roads leading to the border gates with Serbia are removed.
Finally, the Kosovar side affirmed that the process of re-registration of license plates, which they described as “illegal”, was postponed until April 2023, that the owners of these vehicles would first be warned, then they would be fined and, finally, they would be withdrawn. test plates. Be placed.
While the warning measure to vehicle owners began to be implemented on November 1, the Kosovo side announced that fines will be applied to vehicle owners from November 22.
It was indicated that between January 21 and April 21, 2023, circulation would only be allowed with test plates for 3 months.
The parties reached an agreement on November 23, mediated by the EU, to de-escalate tensions and move towards the normalization of relations.
On the other hand, Serbia considers Kosovo, which declared its independence unilaterally in 2008, as its territory.
The Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Process, launched in 2011 under the mediation of the EU, aims to normalize relations and ultimately mutual recognition between the two countries. (AA)