Why does the US need fines for drivers in Kosovo?
2022.11.21 23:42
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Why does the US need fines for drivers in Kosovo?
Budrigannews.com – Following a request from the United States for a delay to a move that Washington and the European Union are concerned may lead to ethnic violence, Kosovo has postponed plans to impose fines on drivers who refuse to surrender old car license plates issued by Serbia for an additional 48 hours.
Between Serbia and its former breakaway province, which declared independence in 2008 and is home to a Serb minority in the north that is backed by Belgrade, the dispute over license plates has stoked tensions for almost two years.
There are approximately 50,000 ethnic Serbs living there who still consider themselves to be a part of Serbia and refuse to recognize Pristina’s authority.Kosovo’s independence will never be recognized, Belgrade has stated.
Pristina ruled this month that local Serbs must finally replace car plates issued by Kosovo Serb municipal authorities, loyal to Belgrade, with Kosovo state ones. Earlier this month, hundreds of Serb minority state workers quit their jobs.
In the early hours of Tuesday, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced the delay in a tweet.I am happy to collaborate with the United States and the EU to find a solution within the next two days, and I accept his (the American ambassador’s) request for a 48-hour postponement.”
Earlier, Kosovo police stated that approximately 10,000 drivers would be subject to fines beginning at 08:00 local time (0700 GMT) on Tuesday.
After emergency talks mediated by the EU on Monday, Pristina and Belgrade failed to reach an agreement, with Brussels threatening an “escalation of violence” if the plan was carried out.
The talks were presided over by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, who laid the primary blame on Kosovo for rejecting an EU proposal regarding the dispute over car plates.
Kurti has also been accused of jeopardizing relations with the United States, Kosovo’s most important ally, by opposition in Pristina.
Kurti has said he is more keen on arriving at a last accord with Serbia where the two nations will perceive each other as free state.
Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, said late on Monday that his country would stop issuing and renewing car number plates for the northern part of Kosovo. However, he also said that tensions would get worse.
Vucic stated to reporters, “We received the latest intelligence a little while ago, the situation is very difficult and on the verge of conflict.”
NATO, which has approximately 3,700 peacekeepers in Kosovo, stated that it is prepared to intervene in the event that the security situation is threatened.
