The altercation will likely strain already poor relations between Serbia and the breakaway region after weeks of violence over the installation of Albanian mayors in Serbian regions in Kosovo.
Meanwhile, Kosovo’s President Vjosa Osmani traveled to Strasbourg to give a speech in front of the European Parliament, where she said Pristina wants nothing but “good neighborly relations.”
The joint U.S. and EU shot across Pristina’s bow came after last week’s flare-up of violence, when dozens of NATO soldiers were injured during fierce scuffles with Serb protesters in northern Kosovo.
In northern Kosovo, ethnic tensions flared when Kosovo Serbs clashed with police and NATO peacekeepers as the former demanded the removal of recently elected Albanian mayors.
“Someone needs to understand that what [Kosovo’s prime minister] Albin Kurti is doing is leading us to red lines and to a complete collapse of dialogue and an escalation on the ground,” Serbia’s defense minister warned.
Afraid that any more recognition would only embolden their own ethnic minorities, seven countries, including Spain, voted against Kosovo’s CoE admission. Another five, including Ukraine, chose to abstain.
The Serbian President said Kosovo Serbs would not vote in the upcoming elections, since Pristina declined to form a Community of Serbian municipalities.
