# NATO peacekeepers oversee removal of roadblocks in Kosovo
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-08-01
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Kosovo Peacekeepers Remove Roadblocks Amid Political Tensions
Meta Description: NATO-led peacekeepers remove roadblocks in Kosovo, reopening two border crossings with Serbia amid tensions over new government policies. Stay updated with the
URL: https://financedigest.com/nato-peacekeepers-oversee-removal-of-roadblocks-in-kosovohtml

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By Fatos Bytyci

ZUPCE, Kosovo (Reuters) -NATO-led peacekeepers backed by helicopters on Monday oversaw the removal of roadblocks protesters had set up in Kosovo, where political tensions have flared more than two decades since a NATO campaign of airstrikes drove out Serbian forces.

Kosovo police said the removal of the barricades in the north of the country allowed two border crossings with Serbia to be reopened.

“Roads are now free for traffic to pass, both border crossings are open now for people and goods to cross,” the police said in a statement.

The removal of the barricades came after the [Kosovo government postponed the implementation of a decision that would oblige ethnic Serbs](https://www.financedigest.com/kosovo-pushes-ahead-with-car-licensing-rule-resisted-by-serbs.html "Kosovo pushes ahead with car licensing rule resisted by Serbs"), who are a majority in the north, to apply for documents and car license plates issued by Kosovan institutions.

The situation has revived faultlines with Serbia and Russia, neither of which recognise Western-aligned Kosovo as an [independent state and have blocked its efforts to join](https://www.financedigest.com/over-a-third-of-uk-people-think-thomas-whitmore-from-independence-day-will-be-joined-by-donald-trump-in-disneys-hall-of-presidents.html "Over a third of UK people think Thomas Whitmore from Independence Day will be joined by Donald Trump in Disney’s Hall of Presidents") the United Nations. Kosovo, recognised as a nation by more than 100 countries, is seeking to [join NATO](https://www.financedigest.com/finland-will-join-nato-on-tuesday-stoltenberg.html "Finland will join NATO on Tuesday – Stoltenberg").

The [government’s decision to postpone followed](https://www.financedigest.com/gecko-governance-launches-compliance-solution-for-ico-market-following-approval-by-isle-of-man-regulator.html "GECKO Governance Launches Compliance Solution For ICO Market Following Approval by Isle of Man Regulator") consultations with U.S. and EU ambassadors.

“Violence will not be tolerated. Those who use violence will be punished by the rule of law with the force of law,” [Prime Minister](https://www.financedigest.com/economist-odor-picked-as-slovakias-caretaker-prime-minister.html "Economist Odor picked as Slovakia’s caretaker prime minister") Albin Kurti told journalists on Monday. He said a total of nine road bocks had been set up.

SIMMERING DISPUTE

Fourteen [years after Kosovo declared independence](https://www.financedigest.com/independent-study-finds-infinidat-storage-can-provide-customers-125-roi-over-three-years-and-payback-in-less-than-six-months.html "Independent Study Finds INFINIDAT Storage Can Provide Customers 125% ROI Over Three Years and Payback in Less than Six Months") from Serbia, some 50,000 ethnic Serbs in the north still use licence plates and papers issued by Serbian authorities, refusing to recognise the Kosovan government.

Ethnic Serbs had parked heavy machinery including trucks filled with gravel on [roads near](https://www.financedigest.com/exclusive-nissan-seeks-tech-tie-up-without-renault-as-alliance-nears-end-of-road.html "Exclusive-Nissan seeks tech tie-up without Renault as alliance nears end of road") the border with Serbia on Sunday in protest at the new policy, which the government agreed to postpone until Sept. 1.

After that date, local Serbs will have 60 days to switch to Kosovo licence plates and accept documents issued at the border to Serbian citizens, including those living in Kosovo without local papers.

Now, thank God, some escalation has been avoided overnight, but this situation has only been [delayed for 1 month,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters](https://www.financedigest.com/euronext-delays-commitment-of-traders-report-until-further-notice.html "Euronext delays commitment of traders report until further notice") on Monday.

Tensions with Serbia remain high and Kosovo’s fragile peace is maintained by NATO’s KFOR mission, which has 3,770 troops on the ground. The mission [issued a statement on Sunday say](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-says-issues-with-imessage-facetime-resolved35792.html "Apple says issues with iMessage, FaceTime resolved") it was prepared to intervene in line with its mandate if stability was jeopardized.

Italian peacekeepers were visible in and around then northern town of Mitrovica on Sunday.

A [Reuters reporter](https://www.financedigest.com/thomson-reuters-report-reveals-risk-compliance-staff-expect-to-see-significant-benefits-from-artificial-intelligence-ai-and-distributed-ledger-technologies.html "Thomson Reuters Report Reveals Risk & Compliance Staff Expect to See Significant Benefits from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Distributed Ledger Technologies") saw helicopters from the KFOR flying over the north of Kosovo, which borders Serbia. Peacekeepers were also present as the roadblocks were dismantled, standing at the roadside and chatting with residents.

Earlier on Monday, the [government began issuing extra documents to Serbian citizens at the biggest](https://www.financedigest.com/nearly-two-thirds-64-of-cisos-see-security-governance-and-compliance-management-as-their-biggest-investment-priority-data-from-network-group-events-shows.html "Nearly two-thirds (64%) of CISOs see security governance and compliance management as their biggest investment priority, data from Network Group Events shows") border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo, Merdare. Kosovo’s government said it would stop issuing the documents once road blocks are removed.

A year ago, after local Serbs blocked the same roads in another row over licence plates, Kosovo’s government deployed special police forces and Belgrade flew fighter jets close to the border.

Serbia and Kosovo committed in 2013 to a dialogue sponsored by the [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") to try to resolve outstanding issues but little progress has been made.

(Reporting by Fatos Bytyci; Writing by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Frank Jack Daniel)


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