Tensions rise at northern Kosovo border

At Mitrovica in northern Kosovo another concrete barricade has been erected by local Serbs blocking the bridge that ethnically splits the city. NATO troops demolished a similar one on Friday.

It is evidence of the rising tensions in the area and has led to calls for the NATO-led international peacekeeping force, KFOR to re-think their tactics.

“I just urge the KFOR to step away from the previous policy and start dealing with the local mayors in the north trying to find a solution. We need strong guarantees that ROSU, the special Kosovo police units, or any other special unit will not come in the north any more,” said Oliver Ivanovic, Serbia’s State Secretary for Kosovo.

The barricades have been built in defiance of attempts by Kosovo authorities to set up customs and control the border with Serbia. Kosovo is 90% ethnically Albanian but 60,000 Serbs who live in the north pledge their allegiance to Belgrade.

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