Kosovo

Kosovo and Serbia: Border Tension

The Kosovo government is sending police and custom officers to take control of two custom checkpoints on its northern border with Serbia. This move is backed by both the European Union and NATO. However, there is resistance coming from the Serbs in northern Kosovo.

This move from Kosovo comes at a critical time as Serbia and Kosovo have started to establish a trade relationship after the long conflict between the two. This trade relationship has been backed by the E.U and NATO in an effort to increase diplomacy between the two states, but reports indicate the move to take control of the two border post could mean a setback in the region. The step to take control of the two important border post comes 12 years after a NATO bombing campaign drove Serbian forces out of Kosovo and just 3 years after Kosovo declared independence. The decision comes as Kosovo is trying to gain authority over its entire country, including northern Kosovo. This is a region where there are many Serbs who do not recognize the new Kosovo government. Serbs in northern Kosovo put up many road blocks and ended up killing one Kosovo police officer in July when Kosovo first tried to take control of the two border post. Many Serbians still believes Kosovo is the foundation of their culture and religion and are willing to fight to preserve what the feel is rightfully theirs.

Realist

http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=09&dd=15&nav_id=76412

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/09/15/idINIndia-59371120110915

September 15, 2011 at 11:21 pm