The prime minister of Kosovo called for the activation of a multinational peacekeeping force on Sunday as a weekend of violence threatens to reignite tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, which have long been at odds, according to media reports.
Serbian protesters in their country’s former province of Kosovo blocked roads, while gunmen attacked police in the latest instance of renewed violence that threatens to collapse a tense coexistence since the two countries reached a fragile peace in 2008, CNN reported. Earlier on Sunday, Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic requested permission from Kosovo Force (KFOR), the NATO police contingent, to allow Serbia’s military to deploy in Kosovo, but acknowledged it was unlikely such permission would be granted.
Also on Sunday, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti urged KFOR to intervene against “criminal gangs” who may be responsible for shooting at police and throwing stun grenades, according to CNN. He asked KFOR to guarantee “freedom of movement” as minority Serbs blocked roads.
[I still suspect that Putin may be encouraging unrest among Serbs as a distraction for NATO from his invasion of Ukraine. — Ed]
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