While citizens in the region follow with anxiety assessments of various analysts that events in Macedonia could easily ‘spill over’, Belgrade reinforces the presence of gendarmerie in Presevo, Pristina is sending special units ROSU on the border with Macedonia, but in Tirana hundreds of young are protesting in solidarity with Albanians in Kumanovo with the message “Kumanovo you are not alone”.
No one is mentioning Serbs from Kosovo, however they have different opinions about whether the scenario that took place in Macedonia could repeat in their region. It is well known that a single reckless public statement could turn into demonstrations or clashes with police.
From this reason it is a bit weird to some Serbs that Belgrade is raising the security level, however it behaves like that there is no threat for Kosovo Serbs and is not insisting with KFOR and other international official to reinforce their presence in the north. Others think that there are no reasons for concern.
Thus, Mayor of Leposavić/Leposaviq says that there is no anxiety in that town, but former mayor of North Mitrovica Krstimir Pantić says that scenario from Kumanovo is possible in the north if international community wishes to exert additional pressure on the government in Belgrade in order to give up on hydro power plant Gazivode, energy system and telecomunications in Kosovo. He also claims that this scenario is only possible if Albanians get green light from international community.
Željko Tvrdišić, main editor of Kontakt Plus Radio from North Mitrovica argues that there is always a potential for violence in Kosovo, whereas Marko Jaksic from the Democratic Party of Serbia claims that there is no threat to northern Kosovo because Belgrade has recognized all they were supposed to.
