Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic expressed his apprehensions regarding the situation in Kosovo, asserting that the most challenging phase is yet to come due to the aspirations of Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti to emulate Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
President Vucic warned that Kosovo may witness unprecedented events, which Serbia has not encountered before and could not have anticipated. He attributed these concerns to the provocative actions and highly irresponsible behavior displayed by Prime Minister Kurti.
During an interview on Serbian Pink TV, Vucic expressed his fears about the potential for general insecurity and instability, even hinting at the possibility of larger conflicts arising as a consequence. He stressed that Serbs cannot tolerate such unrest and blamed Kurti for refusing to step back, claiming that he harbors ambitions and dreams of emulating Zelenskyy.
Tensions between Belgrade and Pristina escalated on Friday when clashes erupted between Kosovo police and local Serbs who had gathered in front of a municipal building to prevent the newly elected ethnic Albanian mayor from assuming office.
The area surrounding the building saw the deployment of police in riot gear, as well as personnel from the EU Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and NATO Kosovo Forces. Media reports indicate that the use of stun grenades and tear gas led to the injury of at least 10 individuals, while instances of automatic gunfire were also reported after a police vehicle was set ablaze.
In response to the situation, Serbia ordered its army to advance towards the border with Kosovo, while urging NATO to intervene and prevent further violence against the local Serb population.
President Vucic called upon the army and security forces to remain prepared for any eventuality, highlighting the need for combat readiness.
Meanwhile, Kosovo Serbs issued a statement on Saturday, urging President Vucic to suspend the ongoing dialogue process aimed at normalizing relations with Kosovo. Serbia has never recognized Kosovo’s independence, declared in 2008, and the local Serb population believes that the recent events require a halt to the negotiation process.
The developments in Kosovo have raised concerns about the future stability of the region, as tensions persist between different ethnic and political factions. The potential for further escalation and violence remains a pressing issue that requires immediate attention and diplomatic efforts to restore calm and prevent a worsening of the situation.
As the situation unfolds, the international community will be closely monitoring the developments in Kosovo and Serbia, hoping for a peaceful resolution and sustained stability in the region.
