EU has been modeling current situation in Kosovo for years: Zakharova
Kosovar police release a statement confirming 3 border skirmishes along the Jarinje border crossing as perpetrators flee in unknown directions.
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A Kosovo police officer at the Jarinje border (Radio Free Europe)
Kosovo police and local media reported, today, Sunday, explosions, gunfire, and roadblocks erected overnight in the north of the country, causing some injuries, as violence broke out in northern Kosovo after Serbs blocked roads.
According to Reuters, Kosovo police exchanged fire with local Serbs blocking the roads.
Kosovo police exchange fire with local Serbs blocking roads https://t.co/cXs5VlYxEv pic.twitter.com/z960ki7G94
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 10, 2022
The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo, known as EULEX, also reported that "a stun grenade was thrown at a reconnaissance patrol of the Mission last night," without injuries or material damage reported.
EULEX, which has some 134 Polish, Italian, and Lithuanian police officers deployed in the north, called on those responsible for the "provocations" not to cause more of them, urging Kosovo's institutions to "bring the perpetrators to justice."
'Planned inaction'
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated on Telegram on Sunday that the EU has been devising the current Kosovo-Serbia situation for years.
"Well, why 'inaction'. This is exactly the situation that the EU has essentially been modeling for years," she said, in response to a comment by Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic that Serbia is on the brink of war verge of war because of Kosovo's Prime Minister and due to the inaction of the EU.
On his part, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Tweeted: "EU will not tolerate attacks on EULEX Kosovo or use of violent, criminal acts in the north."
He also called on the Kosovo Serbs to remove the barricades immediately, stressing that "calm must be restored. EULEX will continue to coordinate with Kosovo authorities and KFOR. All actors must avoid escalation."
#EU will not tolerate attacks on @EULEXKosovo or use of violent, criminal acts in the north. Barricades must be removed immediately by groups of Kosovo Serbs. Calm must be restored. EULEX will continue to coordinate w/Kosovo authorities & KFOR.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) December 11, 2022
All actors must avoid escalation.
On December 10, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia will send the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) mission command a formal request for authorization to deploy Serbian military and police in Kosovo, despite the likeliness of being rejected.
"In accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244, we will send a request to the KFOR commander to arrange for the deployment of the Serbian army and police contingent in Kosovo and Metohija," Vucic said while addressing the nation and reading out the relevant paragraph of the Security Council resolution.
The official decision on sending the request to the KFOR command will be made on Monday, Vucic said.
"Of course, I have no illusions, and I know that they will deny this request. And I'm telling you that in advance," Vucic stressed, noting that it was still necessary to try.
Tension between #Kosovo and #Serbia after the former's new law. pic.twitter.com/2JYvWaoXMN
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) August 1, 2022
On September 10, Vuvic expressed his concerns over the flow of weapons, technology, and equipment supplied by the United States to Kosovo and other Balkan countries.
"The US will send a new tranche of military aid ... to the countries in the region — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, North Macedonia — and, as they call it, Kosovo. I wonder what they will tell us after that and what they will demand of us?" Both Americans and all others from the region. Because, as you can see, there's only one country missing from that list, Serbia," Vucic said.
