
Crisis Averted As Serbs in Kosovo’s North Lift Barricades
“Diplomacy prevailed in de-escalating tensions in north Kosovo. Violence can never be a solution,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said.

“Diplomacy prevailed in de-escalating tensions in north Kosovo. Violence can never be a solution,” Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said.

The decision was due to the latest developments in Kosovo. Authorities in Pristina were preparing to attack the ethnic Serb minority in North Kosovo and to remove the barricades there by force.

Kosovo is the last Western Balkan country to apply for EU membership after Brussels recognized Bosnia’s candidate status earlier in the week and the leadership ratified it on Thursday.

Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti has accused Serbia of threatening his country with aggression: “We do not want conflict, we want peace and progress, but we will respond to aggression with all the power we have.”

The incident comes as tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have ratcheted up in recent months.

Despite its ties with Russia, Serbia announced it won’t recognise the results of the referendums held in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine. Serbia’s own problems with Kosovarian independence, as well as warnings from the EU, play into that decision.

The Serbian leader appears caught in a juggling act. At home, he must retain the good graces of his conservative base; abroad he must maintain relations with China, Russia, and the ‘progressive’, staunchly anti-Russian, European Union.

Kosovo wants to apply for membership in the EU, the Council of Europe, and NATO, but not all EU members recognize Kosovarian independence, which will be an obstacle hard to overcome.

Prime Minister Kurti explained that “there should not be a difference between the headscarf and other religious elements” in public life.

The shooting is the latest in a series of incidents along the border between Serbia and the breakaway province.