# Kosovo pushes ahead with car licensing rule resisted by Serbs
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-09-02
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Latest News on Kosovo Car License Plate Controversy
Meta Description: Stay informed on the latest developments as U.S. NATO peacekeepers monitor tensions in northern Kosovo over car license plate changes. Learn more here.
URL: https://financedigest.com/kosovo-pushes-ahead-with-car-licensing-rule-resisted-by-serbshtml

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JARINJE, Kosovo (Reuters) -Dozens of U.S. NATO peacekeepers patrolled northern Kosovo on Thursday to preserve calm after Pristina announced that around 50,000 ethnic Serbs in the region would have to switch their car license plates to local ones within two months.

Kosovo, which is predominantly ethnic Albanian, has sought to compel Serbs to accept Pristina’s authority in [routine bureaucratic matters since winning independence in 2008 after nearly a decade-long uprising against Serbia’s repressive rule](https://www.financedigest.com/new-china-covid-rules-spur-concern-as-some-cities-halt-routine-tests.html "New China COVID rules spur concern as some cities halt routine tests").

Serbia does not recognise Kosovo’s independence and Serbs in [northern Kosovo consider Belgrade as their capital](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-new-frontiers-collection-launch-to-capitalize-on-northern-ireland-housing-supply-shortfall.html "Exclusive new Frontiers’ Collection launch to capitalize on Northern Ireland housing supply shortfall").

In announcing the Oct. 31 deadline for motorists to switch over Serbian license plates to those issued by Pristina, Kosovo [Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/liz-truss-resigns-after-six-weeks-as-uk-prime-minister.html "Liz Truss resigns after six weeks as UK prime minister") Albin Kurti described the decision as “nothing more or less than an expression of the exercise of sovereignty.

Certain financial benefits will be offered during registration, including [tax relief,”](https://www.financedigest.com/what-is-inheritance-tax-share-loss-relief.html "What is inheritance tax share loss relief?") Kurti said in Serbian in a video posted on his Facebook profile.

A push last [year to implement the car](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-car-sales-hit-30-year-low-in-2022-but-could-grow-15-this-year-smmt.html "UK car sales hit 30-year low in 2022, but could grow 15% this year – SMMT") licensing was met with protests by the Serbs in the north, who are backed by Belgrade and live close to Kosovo’s border with Serbia. Tensions flared again [last month](https://www.financedigest.com/fintech-trends-to-look-out-for-during-the-last-six-months-of-2019.html "Fintech trends to look out for during the last six months of 2019") after Pristina announced the rule would go into effect on Sept. 1, prompting ethnic Serbs to set up roadblocks.

Tensions eased after Kurti, under U.S. and [European Union](https://www.financedigest.com/lisk-announces-lsk-token-listed-on-bitflyer-the-european-unions-newest-crypto-exchange.html "Lisk announces LSK token listed on bitFlyer, the European Union’s newest crypto exchange") pressure, agreed to postpone the switch. The roadblocks were removed under the watch of NATO, which bombed Serbia in 1999 to end repression of Kosovo’s Albanians and now has about 3,700 peacekeepers in Kosovo.

“If we are told to change the plates we will change them, but I am not happy with it,” Ratko Simic, a Serb from the northern town of Leposavic, told Reuters on Thursday as he crossed from Serbia into Kosovo.

The defence ministry in Serbia, which [sees Kosovo as an integral](https://www.financedigest.com/the-next-upcoming-years-to-see-the-oral-solid-dosage-contract-manufacturing-market-integrating-constructive-innovation.html "The Next Upcoming Years To See The Oral Solid Dosage Contract Manufacturing Market Integrating Constructive Innovation") part of Serbian territory, said on Wednesday it had stepped up training of some of its troops garrisoned near the border with Kosovo.

Major General Ferenc Kajari, commander of [NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo](https://www.financedigest.com/nato-peacekeepers-oversee-removal-of-roadblocks-in-kosovo.html "NATO peacekeepers oversee removal of roadblocks in Kosovo"), sought to dispel fears of an imminent conflict as peacekeepers who have patrolled the region for the past two weeks fanned out to pre-empt any violence.

We don’t see any kind of indication even of a preparation for a war … Those who think responsibly they should not talk about war,” Kajari, a Hungarian, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.

[Talks between Kosovo and Serbia under the auspices of the European Union](https://www.financedigest.com/telecom-italia-in-talks-with-unions-on-up-to-2000-job-cuts-in-italy.html "Telecom Italia in talks with unions on up to 2,000 job cuts in Italy") and U.S. envoys have so far failed to solve the issue, although Belgrade and Pristina last week [reached a deal](https://www.financedigest.com/analysis-g7-fails-to-reach-intervention-deal-to-ease-pain-of-soaring-dollar.html "Analysis-G7 fails to reach intervention deal to ease pain of soaring dollar") on the use of personal identity documents.

Serbs account for 5% of the 1.8 [million people](https://www.financedigest.com/the-start-up-using-technology-to-help-the-20-million-people-in-britain-with-money-worries.html "The start-up using technology to help the 20 million people in Britain with money worries") in Kosovo. Serbia accuses Kosovo of trampling on the rights of this ethnic minority, a charge denied by Pristina.

Kosovo is recognised by some 100 countries [including the United](https://www.financedigest.com/stanchart-weighing-options-including-sale-of-aircraft-lessor-unit.html "StanChart weighing options, including sale, of aircraft lessor unit") States and all but five EU members, but not by a number of other states, notably Russia and China.

(Reporting by Aleksandar Vasovic and Fatos Bytyci; Editing by Paul Simao and Philippa Fletcher)


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