Kosovo authorities have closed five parallel institutions in the north of the country that were working with the ethnic Serb minority. This move has been criticized by the US and could lead to further tensions with neighbouring Serbia. The closure was confirmed by Kosovo’s minister of local administration, Elbert Krasniqi, who stated that these institutions violated the country’s constitution and laws.
The US embassy in Kosovo expressed concern over the closure, noting its negative impact on the ethnic Serb community and other minority groups. The relationship between Kosovo and Serbia has been strained since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move that Belgrade does not recognize. Recent violence in the region has raised further concerns, including a shootout in September 2023 that left four people dead.
Efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia have faced challenges, with talks facilitated by the EU making little progress. Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has been at odds with western powers over various issues, including the closure of branches of a Serbia-licensed bank in northern Kosovo.
With parliamentary elections approaching in February, tensions in Kosovo are expected to remain high. The vote will serve as a test for Kurti, whose party won by a landslide in 2021. Unrest in the region has increased, with increased presence of Nato-led peacekeepers along the Kosovo-Serbia border. The closure of the parallel institutions is just one issue in a series of challenges facing the region.
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