The warning got here from Special Representative and head of the UN Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), Zahir Tanin, in a briefing to the Security Council on Friday.
“[These events] are of deep concern to me and ought to be a warning to all members of this Council”, Mr. Tanin mentioned, referring to 2 episodes involving the Kosovo Police.
Escalating occasions
On the morning of 20 September, Pristina launched a police operation in northern Kosovo to implement a brand new licence plate validity regime, inflicting a stand-off with protesters blockading visitors alongside the Administrative Boundary Line.
Particular items of the Kosovo Police, armed with lengthy weapons, had been deployed in armoured autos. In a single occasion, they utilised tear fuel and percussion grenades to disperse protesters.
Tensions had been reportedly resolved over the border dispute, following worldwide mediation and the deployment of troops from the NATO-led peacekeeping operation in Kosovo, KFOR.
Anti-smuggling operation
This previous Wednesday, Kosovo Police Particular Police Items had been as soon as once more deployed in the north, as a part of what has been described as an anti-smuggling operation, performed in a number of areas in Kosovo.
Over the course of the day, the operation provoked protests and clashes that resulted in a big variety of accidents, amongst protestors, police and uninvolved civilians.
In line with information stories, the clashes concerned ethnic Serbs, which provoked a response from Serbia, calling on the worldwide group to revive order and shield Serbs residing inside Kosovo.
Mr. Tanin described these occasions as a reminder “that lack of political understanding and communication is a vector for the escalation of tensions, particularly in fragile safety environments characterised by distrust.”
For him, this may be described as “a bruising episode, nevertheless it might far too simply have been became an actual haemorrhage.”
“Historical past within the area has tragically and repeatedly proven that ostensibly small incidents, misreading of intentions, and outright errors, can set off an unstable safety escalation that places lives in danger and advantages no-one.”
Dialogue
The Particular Consultant knowledgeable that he has spoken about it each with Prime Minister Kurti, from Kosovo, and President Vučić, from Serbia, in addition to different diplomatic actors concerned, particularly these representing the US, the Russian Federation and China.
He additionally welcomed the current encounter between the 2 leaders, on 6 October, throughout the EU-Western Balkans Summit, within the presence of French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel.
“Nonetheless, it could be untimely and overly optimistic to say that we will see a resumption of actual dedication to the dialogue, which stays the one discussion board through which accountable and result-oriented discussions can proceed”, he concluded.
