KOSOVO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS TENSIONS WITH SERBIA FLARE ANEW

kosovo

Kosovo has declared a state of emergency amid escalating tensions with Serbia, marking a significant deterioration in relations in the volatile Balkan region. The move follows days of heightened instability in northern Kosovo, where ethnic Serb communities have clashed with local authorities over issues like license plates and mayoral elections. Kosovo’s government cited 'imminent threats to security and public order' as the reason for the emergency decree, which grants authorities broader powers to deploy forces and impose restrictions.

The flare-up centers on northern Kosovo, a Serb-majority area that rejects Pristina’s authority. Recent incidents include road blockades by Serb protesters and exchanges of fire between Kosovo police and Serb militants, prompting NATO’s peacekeeping mission, KFOR, to reinforce its presence. Serbia, which does not recognize Kosovo’s 2008 independence, has accused its neighbor of 'terrorizing' Serbs and mobilized troops near the border, raising fears of a wider conflict.

International actors, including the European Union and United States, have urged restraint, with the EU announcing urgent diplomatic talks. Kosovo’s declaration underscores the fragility of a 2013 EU-brokered normalization agreement that has repeatedly stalled. The emergency measures, initially set for 30 days, allow for heightened security checks and movement controls in affected areas.

As both sides remain entrenched, the region braces for potential spillover, with NATO warning against unilateral actions. The crisis highlights unresolved grievances from the 1998-1999 Kosovo war and the challenges of post-conflict reconciliation in the Balkans.

KOSOVO DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AS TENSIONS WITH SERBIA FLARE ANEW

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