• Kurti says he is waiting for KFOR to remove barricades in the north (RFE)
• Government refutes claims for deployment of special forces in north (RFE)
• Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare (Reuters)
• Tensions rise, violence reported in Kosovo as ethnic Serbs block roads (RFE)
• German FM: Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing elections, recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite (media)
• Joint statement of U.S. Embassies in Belgrade and Pristina (media)
• Statement by United Kingdom Embassies in Pristina and Belgrade (media)
• Kurti: We do not seek conflict but dialogue and peace (media)
• NATO: Parties to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric (media)
• Albanian PM Rama reacts to incidents in north of Kosovo (media)
• Chollet, Escobar start their visit to Kosovo (media)
• Escobar begins visit to Kosovo with visit to Decani Monastery (media)
• RFE secures French-German plan; doesn’t mention mutual recognition
• Kosovo to submit EU bid in coming days (Politico)
• Bildt: Things will heat up as Kosovo intends to submit EU application (media)

Kurti says he is waiting for KFOR to remove barricades in the north (RFE)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called on KFOR on Sunday to guarantee the freedom of movement in the north of Kosovo, saying that this is their mission to guarantee “a safe and secure environment, which also implies free movement without any differences”.

Kurti told a press conference after the meeting of the Kosovo Security Council that he is waiting for KFOR to remove the barricades in the north. “We are waiting. KFOR is asking for some time to swiftly carry this out and we are waiting,” he said.

Kosovo’s Minister of Interior Affairs, Xhelal Svecla, said at the same press conference that six barricades were set up on December 10 in Leposavic, Zvecan and Zubin Potok. He said that the border crossings of Jarinje and Bernjak have been closed for security reasons.

Svecla called on local Serbs to remove the barricades in the north, adding that if the barricades are not removed the necessary actions will be taken without disclosing further details. “I appealed for the barricades to be removed. The Kosovo Police has the required capacities to act in this direction. It prepares its operational plans and the moment they deem necessary, if the barricades are not removed, they will undertake the necessary actions,” he said.

Svecla also said that Kosovo’s institutions are in coordination with international partners and that “very soon we will get to a situation where there will no longer be barricades in the north”.

Kurti too called on local Serbs to distance themselves from criminal groups “and Vucic’s regime, which finances and calls for war”. He also accused Serbia of wanting to threat Kosovo’s territorial integrity and that it wants to destabilise the Balkans.

Government refutes claims for deployment of special forces in north (RFE)

The Kosovo Government refuted claims made by the Serbian List – the biggest party of Serbs in Kosovo – that Prime Minister Albin Kurti was preparing to deploy special police forces in the north to allegedly expel Serbs from the north. “This is absolutely not true,” government spokesman Perparim Kryeziu told Radio Free Europe on Sunday. He also said “such fabrications are aimed at justifying and maintaining the barricades in the north which should be removed immediately”.

“We call on our citizens in the north to follow our statements and to trust our institutions and not to fall prey to misinformation by criminal groups whose goal is to protect themselves,” Kryeziu said.

Serbs in Kosovo clash with police as ethnic tensions flare (Reuters)

Serb protesters in northern Kosovo blocked main roads for a second day on Sunday following a nighttime exchange of fire with police after the arrest of a former Serb policeman, amid rising tensions between authorities and Kosovo's Serb minority.

In recent weeks Serbs in northern Kosovo - which they believe to be part of Serbia - have responded with violent resistance to moves by Pristina that they see as anti-Serb.

EULEX, the European Union mission tasked with patrolling northern Kosovo, said a stun grenade was thrown on one of its armoured vehicles on Saturday evening, but no one was injured.

Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief, warned the bloc will not tolerate violence against members of its mission.

"#EU will not tolerate attacks on @EULEXKosovo or use of violent, criminal acts in the north. Barricades must be removed immediately by groups of Kosovo Serbs. Calm must be restored," he wrote on Twitter.

Read more at: https://reut.rs/3Bo3BAs

Tensions rise, violence reported in Kosovo as ethnic Serbs block roads (RFE)

Serbia and Kosovo have intensified their exchange of harsh rhetoric amid reports of heightened violence as roadblocks were set up by ethnic Serbs in the north of the country in protest against the arrest of a former ethnic Serb police officer.

No injuries have been reported from the violence that broke out on the night of December 10-11 following the arrest of the police officer and after Serbian officials suggested that Serbian military and police could be sent in across the Balkan countries' partially recognized border.

Explosions and shootings were reported as tensions rose between ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs after six roadblocks were set up in solidarity with officer Dejan Pantic, who recently quit the force in protest and who was charged on December 10 with domestic terrorism after being accused of being a perpetrator of attacks on the elections commission in northern Kosovo.

Read more at: https://bit.ly/3FlVfdH

German FM: Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing elections, recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite (media)

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in a Twitter post on Sunday that “Kosovo reduced tensions by postponing local elections. Recent rhetoric from Serbia did the opposite”. “Suggesting sending Serbian forces to Kosovo is completely unacceptable. So are the latest attacks on EULEX. All my support goes to the EU-led dialogue @MiroslavLajcak,” she tweeted.

Baerbock’s tweet was later shared by the German Ambassador to Pristina Jorn Rohde, who said “crystal clear words from Baerbock + equally clear condemnation by EU, US, UK: We show zero tolerance for any violence and escalation. The EU-facilitated Dialogue led by @MiroslavLajcak is the only way forward”.

Joint statement of U.S. Embassies in Belgrade and Pristina (media)

The U.S. Embassies in Belgrade and Pristina issued on Sunday a joint statement about the situation in the north of Kosovo.

The United States expresses its deep concern about the current situation in the north of Kosovo. We understand that Kosovan authorities have detained an individual suspected of involvement in a violent attack on Kosovan law enforcement and electoral commission authorities. This arrest is being used as a justification for illegal roadblocks as well as threats and intimidation against the Kosovan authorities and the local population.

Those who erected illegal roadblocks should dismantle them immediately. We expect an end to all threats of violence and intimidation. We express our appreciation and full support to NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) for its efforts to ensure security and freedom of movement and to the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX). We firmly condemn as unacceptable all attacks on Kosovan and International security agencies.

We call on everyone to exercise maximum restraint, to take immediate action to achieve a de-escalation of the situation, and to refrain from provocative acts. We urge the parties to work within the EU-facilitated Dialogue to resolve issues of concern.

The joint statement was also shared by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama on Twitter, who wrote “can’t agree more. Loud and clear to all who want to hear”.

Statement by United Kingdom Embassies in Pristina and Belgrade (media)

The United Kingdom Embassies in Pristina and Belgrade issued the following statement:

Along with the United States and the EU, we express our deep concern about the current situation in the north of Kosovo following the detention of an individual suspected of involvement in an attack on Kosovan authorities. This arrest is no justification for illegal roadblocks nor threats and intimidation against the Kosovan authorities and the local population.

We expect all illegal roadblocks to be dismantled and an end to all threats of violence and intimidation. We appreciate and fully support NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) in its work to ensure security and freedom of movement and the European Union Rule of Law Mission (EULEX) contribution to supporting Kosovan rule of law authorities. We firmly condemn as unacceptable all attacks on Kosovan and International security agencies.

We call on all sides to exercise maximum restraint, to avoid inflammatory rhetoric and to take immediate action to achieve a de-escalation of the situation. We call on the authorities of Kosovo to act with restraint and for the authorities of Serbia to use their influence to achieve a de-escalation of the situation. The EU-facilitated Dialogue is the means to resolve conflicts and to achieve an agreement on normalized relations.

Kurti: We do not seek conflict but dialogue and peace (media)

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said in a Twitter post on Sunday that “with the license plates issue resolved and elections delayed, criminal gangs in the north of Kosova lack even the flimsiest pretext for barricades and violent attacks on Kosova Police. In cooperation with KFOR, we are working to address the situation quickly and peacefully”.

Kurti also wrote that “the President and Prime Minister of Serbia have also threatened military aggression, calling for the Serbian army to return to our territory. We do not seek conflict, but dialogue and peace. But let me be clear: the Republic of Kosova will defend itself — forcefully and decisively.”

NATO: Parties to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric (media)

NATO spokeswoman, Oana Lungescu, wrote in a Twitter post “We join NATO allies and the EU in strongly condemning the stun grenade attack on a EULEX reconnaissance patrol last night. Any such attacks are unacceptable and those responsible must be held to account.”

“Our NATO KFOR mission remains extremely vigilant and fully capable of carrying out its UN mandate in Kosovo. We call on all parties to avoid provocative actions and rhetoric and to contribute to calm and stability,” she tweeted.

Albanian PM Rama reacts to incidents in north of Kosovo (media)

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama took to Twitter to condemn the attacks against EULEX in the north of Kosovo and said that every act of violence against Kosovo Police is also condemnable. “The re-emergence of barricades in the north of Kosovo falls in opposition with every law and every spirit of dialogue and not only it fails to resolve anything, but it complicates matters even more! The postponement of elections by the President of the Republic of Kosovo is a meaningful sign, to which the senior authorities in Belgrade must respond with eh same spirit and sense of responsibility, in order not to allow further escalation of destabilising acts!”

“Belgrade must use its influence on the northern Kosovo Serbs, without justifying their actions regardless of the reasons! Reasons are discussed and cannot be used as weapons against the police and barricades against the rule of law. the EU must urgently call the table of dialogue,” Rama tweeted.

Chollet, Escobar start their visit to Kosovo (media)

Counselor to the U.S. State Department, Derek Chollet, and the U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, will start their two-day visit to Kosovo today. Chollet is also scheduled to visit Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, and Croatia. Several news websites note that their visit comes a time of heightened tensions in the north of Kosovo.

A statement by the U.S. State Department notes that Chollet will meet “with government officials and other political leaders to discuss continued cooperation on a range of issues, including U.S. efforts to advance Kosovo’s integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures, including through the EU-facilitated dialogue to achieve a comprehensive agreement on normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on mutual recognition.”

Escobar begins visit to Kosovo with visit to Decani Monastery (media)

Most news websites reported on Sunday that the U.S. Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, arrived in Kosovo on Sunday and visited the Decani Monastery. The Decani Monastery said in a Twitter post: “Today US Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar visited Dečani Monastery together with Alyson Grunder, Deputy Chief of Mission of the US Embassy in Pristina and their colleagues. We are grateful for the US firm commitment to protection of all communities and religious heritage in Kosovo.”

RFE secures French-German plan; doesn’t mention mutual recognition

The news website claims to have secured a copy of the EU proposal for the normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, also known as the French-German plan. It calls for equal rights between Kosovo and Serbia, respect for territorial integrity, inviolability of borders, recognition of state symbols, and a special arrangement for the Serbian community in Kosovo are the key elements of the proposal. The proposal was reportedly delivered to the parties in late summer, and it has the support of France, Germany, and the United States of America. The document does not mention mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia or Kosovo’s membership in the United Nations, but notes the support that the parties must give each other in the process of European integration. Serbia is also asked not to obstruct Kosovo’s membership in international organisations.

Several sources in Brussels in the main European capitals confirmed the accuracy of the proposal.

Kosovo to submit EU bid in coming days (Politico)

The country, which several EU countries don’t formally recognize, is eyeing 2030 as a target date to be ready for membership.

Kosovo plans to formally submit an application to join the EU over the coming days — a bid to show European capitals it is serious about reforms and moving closer to the bloc.

“We are ready to put Kosovo on the new trajectory,” Besnik Bislimi, Kosovo’s first deputy prime minister in charge of European integration, told POLITICO in an interview.

Still, the EU accession process is notoriously extensive, requiring years of regulatory changes, as well as economic and judicial reforms. And Kosovo’s case is particularly fraught for the EU. Five EU members — Cyprus, Greece, Romania, Slovakia and Spain — still don’t recognize Kosovo’s independence.

Bislimi said he knew it would be a while before Kosovo could be ready for membership, but he cited 2030 as an initial target.

The EU, he said, will “never be complete without the Western Balkans.”

Read more at: https://politi.co/3UNluzp

Bildt: Things will heat up as Kosovo intends to submit EU application (media)

Former Foreign Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt, said in a Twitter post on Sunday that “crisis is brewing in northern Kosovo again. Things will also heat up as Kosovo intends to submit the EU application in the next few days. But before that application moves anywhere there are agreements that must be respected and difficult steps to be taken.”