The tensions between Kosovo and Serbia escalates and clashes broke out between Serbs protesting in North Kosovo and the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFor).
What is the Kosovo-Serbia conflicts?
Both Kosovo and Serbia are countries that lie in the Balkan region of Europe.
Kosovo is a former province of Serbia.
Kosovo unilaterally declared Independence in 2008 and is recognised as a country by about 100 nations including the U.S. and several EU- countries.
However, Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s sovereignty and continues to consider it as a part of it.
What are the roots of the conflict?
Historic Significance - The Serbian Empire had gained control of Kosovo in the 12th century.
Kosovo become the heart of the kingdom with several significant Serb Orthodox Christian churches and monasteries.
Ethnic Shift - In the 1389 Battle of Kosovo, Serbia lost Kosovo to the Ottoman Empire for 500 years.
During Ottoman rule, there was a shift in ethnic and religious balance in Kosovo, it became a region with majority of ethnic Albanian Muslims.
Made a province - Kosovo became part of Serbia in the early 20th century.
Post the Second World War, it was eventually made a province (with autonomy) of Serbia.
Ethnic rift - At this point, Kosovo had ethnic Albanian as 90% of its population and they felt the reunion unfair.
In the 1980s, Kosovo Albanians sought separation from Serbia.
Conflict - In the late 1990s, the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), consisting mainly Kosovo Albanians, led an insurgency against the Serbian rule of Kosovo.
Serbia cracked down on the rebellion by deploying heavy forces in 1998 and 1999.
NATO and UNSC - In 1999, NATO intervened to pull out Kosovo and subsequently, NATO deployed peacekeepers.
Through the UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1244, a transitional UN-led administration began to head Kosovo.
Independence - In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia.
Serbia challenged Kosovo’s actions before the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The ICJ was of the opinion that Kosovo’s declaration was not against international law.
What has happened since 2008?
An ethnic Serb minority resides in Kosovo makes up to 5.3% of its population.
The Kosovo Serbs do not recognise Kosovo state institutions.
The Kosovo Serbs receive pay and benefits from Serbia’s budget but do not pay taxes to neither of the governments.
Since 2008, clashes have broken out on and off in Kosovo’s northern region.
In 2013, both Serbia and Kosovo reached the Brussels Agreement brokered by the EU.
But the agreement was not fully implemented on the ground.
In July 2022, violent clashes broke out in the northern region over the issue of changing Serbian number plates of vehicles while in Kosovo.
The ethnic Serbs in the north in protest put up blockades at the 2 border entry points between Serbia and Kosovo, only through which Kosovo citizens can travel to Western Europe.
Why have tensions flared again?
Kosovo held mayoral elections in municipalities in April 2023.
These ethnic Serbs boycotted the elections to northern municipalities.
As a result of low turnout, ethnic Albanian mayors got elected in these municipalities.
In protest, ethnic Serb mayors in northern municipalities, local judges and police officers had resigned and also opposed fresh elections to their posts.
The ethnic Albanian mayors took office in northern Kosovo’s Serb-majority area.
These moves faced protests by Serbs and the U.S. and its allies to rebuked Kosovo.
These triggered violent clashes between NATO soldiers and Serb protesters.
Where do the resolution talks stand?
Since late 2015, there has been little progress in reaching new agreements or implementing existing ones.
In 2018, the then Presidents of Kosovo and Serbia had proposed redrawing borders and swapping some territories between the 2 countries to normalise ties but the EU rejected it.
EU plan - In February 2023, theEU proposed a plan to which both Serbia and Kosovo tentatively agreed to. It states -
Serbia would stop lobbying against Kosovo’s candidature in international organisations including the United Nations.
In turn, Kosovo was to form an association of Serb-majority municipalities.
However, the two parties walked out of singing the deal as a result of opposition against it from their own countries.
Now, the talks have also stalled doubting the EU’s seriousness.
Russian factor - Serbia has strong historic and military ties with Russia and Russia also supports Serbia’s claim.
Kosovo does not want the spillover of Ukraine conflict in the Balkan region.
What lies ahead?
Kosovo has indicated that a solution for de-escalation is close.
It is open to holding fresh elections in Serb dominant municipalities, provided they are held in a free and fair manner.
Kosovo wants the election to be held without Serbia pressuring ethnic Serbs to boycott the vote.
