It’s now been 3 days since the border jam in northern Kosovo, and the registers of the Interior Ministry are showing a total of 4 465 temporary registration plates that have been ordered and replaced by Serbian citizens thus far.
Statistics were taken from all border crossing points, whereas in Jarinje and Bernjak, the situation continues to be on standstill.
During the last meeting of the Kosovo government, PM Albin Kurti stated that the decision to apply the reciprocity measures should have been made a long time ago, but it is also a decision that can be withdrawn at any time, the moment the Serbian side is willing to reciprocate and do the same thing.
“We are willing to meet and discuss this matter. High representatives of the EU, like Borrell and Lajcak have also proposed this. They’ve asked us to have this dialogue in Brussels,” – said Albin Kurti.
The invitation to dialogue however hasn’t been received with the same attitude by the Serbian counterpart. In a declaration made before the Serbian press, president Aleksandar Vucic said that Kosovo should take things back to how they were before September 20. Only then, he said, can there be a dialogue.
However, according to Kosovo’s prime minister, in the statements made by Vucic there is only bitterness and hostility and no actual desire to find a solution.
This growing friction amid Kosovo’s already strained relations with Serbia hasn’t failed to grab the attention of the international community, who have made consecutive calls for de-escalation and a reduction of tensions. The EU Commissioner for Enlargement and the Neighborhood, Oliver Varhelyi has called on both sides to take a step back.
However, it doesn’t seem like the Kosovo government will be taking any steps back on the matter. In fact, PM Kurti has made it clear that they will be steadfast on the implementation of the reciprocity measures on all Serbian vehicles entering their territory unless the Serbian government decides to do away with all measures on both sides.
According to Kurti, the special forces deployed at the border are only fulfilling their duties and they are only there to exercise orders and enforce the law.
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