'They have been trying to fight our democratic way of life' President of Kosovo VjosaOsmaniPKRS tells Newsnight Serbia's 'actions' are responsible for ramping up tensions & claims Serbia is doing arms & gas deals with Russia despite global sanctions
Kosovo's government has postponed the implementation of new rules that would force people in majority ethnic Serb areas to swap their Serbian-issued car number plates for Kosovan-issued ones.But on Sunday ethnic Serbs in the north barricaded roads and armed men fired shots in protest.Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in February 2008, nearly a decade after it broke away following a bloody war which saw Nato bombing Serbia.
Some 50,000 people living in majority Serb areas of the north use licence plates issued by Serbian authorities and refuse to recognise Kosovan institutions.The Kosovan government's decision to introduce new rules, including replacing Serbian license plates with Kosovan ones, led to clashes. Nato described the situation as "tense" as hundreds of ethnic Serbs parked trucks, tankers and other vehicles near two key border crossings with Serbia in protest over the new rules, forcing the police to close the two crossings.it was prepared to intervene "if stability is jeopardised"There were also reports of shots being fired by armed men, though Kosovo's police said they had not received reports of any injuries.
Serbian President Alexandar Vucic also said he expected tensions to "de-escalate" following the rules' postponement.Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia continue despite the two sides having committed to engage in EU-sponsored dialogue to try to resolve longstanding issues.
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