Thousands of Kosovo Serb ladies walked the streets of Mitrovica to call for an easing of tensions between Belgrade and Pristina — as a dispute over automobile license plates threatens to spark unrest.
Demonstrators spoke out in opposition to deliberate fines via Kosovo government for many who refuse to switch their Belgrade-issued car registration plates, and in opposition to the cruelty they are saying they’re going through day by day from the government in Pristina.
“We have had enough with all of it”, stated one protester, who added that she sought after to are living in peace.
Long-simmering tensions between Serbia and its former province have fixed once more in contemporary weeks over the Kosovo govt’s resolution to prohibit Serbian-issued license plates.
Kosovo, which stays unrecognised via Serbia, desires some 10,000 Kosovo Serbs whose automobiles have Serbian-issued plates to switch them with Kosovo Republic plates.
The phased plan comprises warnings, fines, and sooner or later using bans for refusing to change.
The two facets have failed to achieve a long-term settlement at the subject, in spite of mediation from each the EU and US.
The European Union’s best diplomat Josep Borrell held lengthy talks on Monday with the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo and blamed them for his or her failure to settle the dispute.
Around 3,700 NATO peacekeepers are nonetheless deployed in Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.But some now worry this deadlock may just result in sectarian violence between the 2 communities within the area.
Watch the video within the video participant above to determine extra.