The NATO Force for Kosovo (KFOR) announced this Sunday at the last minute that “it is prepared to intervene” in the event that the stability of northern Kosovo is endangered, after Serbs from northern Kosovo have cut two border crossings that connect the region with Serbia.
“KFOR will take all necessary measures to maintain a secure environment in Kosovo at all times, in accordance with its UN mandate,” he said in a statement on his Twitter account, after the rise in tensions in the north. of Kosovo registered in the last hours.
The dispute has begun as a way of protesting the entry into force this Monday of a new Kosovar regulation on identity documents and license plates by which those who enter the country from Serbia will have to hand over their Serbian identity documents for documents ID cards issued by Pristina valid for three months.
Likewise, car license plates issued by Serbia for Kosovar cities with a Serb majority will have to be replaced by official Kosovo ones from August 1. These measures respond in reciprocity to the policy applied by Serbia to the citizens of Kosovo who visit Serbia, according to the Radio Free Europe station.
Until now, Kosovo has considered license plates with the initials of the cities of Kosovska Mitrovica (KM), Pristina (PR) or Urosevac (UR) illegal, but has tolerated their use in the four Serbian-majority municipalities. Now license plates will have to bear the acronym for the Republic of Kosovo (RKS). The deadline for the change ends on September 30.
For this reason, KFOR has assured that it is ready to intervene in the event that stability in northern Kosovo is put at risk, and has recalled that NATO “closely monitors” the situation in accordance with Council Resolution 1244 of Security of the UN of 1999.
“The NATO-led KFOR mission is focusing on the daily implementation of its UN mandate to ensure a safe environment and freedom of movement for the entire population of Kosovo. KFOR maintains a visible and agile posture on the ground, and the KFOR Commander is in contact with all of his key interlocutors, including representatives of Kosovo security organizations and the Serbian Chief of Defense.” detailed unit in writing.
In this regard, NATO has shown its full support for the normalization process between Pristina and Belgrade through the dialogue facilitated by the European Union, and has called on all parties to continue negotiations.
“It is important that this continues. It is essential for regional peace and security. There will be no real prospects for a better future in the Balkans if Human Rights and democratic values, the rule of law, internal reforms and good neighborly relations are not fully respected. Constructive dialogue is key to regional stability,” KFOR added in its letter.
The conflict between the two sides began in September 2021, when Kosovo ordered all drivers entering the country from Serbia to use temporary license plates valid for 60 days, a measure that was already in place for drivers entering Serbia from Kosovo. since 2008.
Five EU countries, including Spain, do not recognize the Kosovar unilateral declaration of independence in 2008. The EU, however, acts as a mediator in the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, on which the general normalization of relations and the possibilities of accession of both countries to the community bloc.
The EU’s diplomatic initiative, which reactivated the dialogue process in 2020, seeks for the two parties to normalize their relations in binding terms and in accordance with international standards, something that it considers a ‘sine qua non’ condition for the European path.