Tensions Escalate in Northern Kosovo Following Prime Minister Kurti’s Visit

Tensions Rise in Northern Kosovo Following Prime Minister’s Visit

Police authorities in Kosovska Mitrovica, located in northern Kosovo, report that at least four individuals have been arrested in a predominantly Serbian area of the divided city. This follows the visit of Prime Minister Albin Kurti on Monday, which sparked significant unrest. Among those detained was Serbian activist and leader of the Democracy party, Aleksandar Arsenijević, as confirmed by Deputy Police Commander Petrit Fejza.

The situation has escalated further with the closure of two out of four border crossings with Serbia. Protesters on the Serbian side have blocked the roads, hindering the passage of motorists carrying Kosovo identification documents.

During his visit to North Mitrovica, Prime Minister Kurti engaged with Serbian journalists, stating, “We now have an agreement and the agreement must be respected and implemented. However, Belgrade does not acknowledge the agreement it has consented to.” He added, “The Serbs have come to understand that this agreement is incompatible with the ideology of a Greater Serbia.”

Northern Kosovo, characterized by its predominantly ethnic Serbian population, has long been a hotspot for tensions between the government in Pristina and authorities in Belgrade. The recently closed Brnjak and Merdare crossings are situated in this northern region, which is home to a majority ethnic Serb demographic.

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Serbian activists have voiced their demands for the withdrawal of Kosovo police forces from the area. Additionally, there are calls for KFOR, the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo, to take control of the northern region. KFOR spokesperson Colonel Salvatore Mascoli emphasized that any such decision should be made through dialogue and effective coordination with the international community.

The ongoing tensions are exacerbated by discussions surrounding the potential reopening of the bridge over the Ibar River, which separates the city into Serbian and Albanian sections. Colonel Mascoli assured that KFOR would maintain a “fixed presence on the bridge.”

In response to Prime Minister Kurti’s visit, Serbian authorities have indicated they will formulate a response by Friday. However, they remain open to continuing dialogue in Brussels, with the aspiration of joining the EU bloc. Despite over a decade of negotiations, relations between Kosovo and Serbia remain fraught with tension.