Serbs in the north of Kosovo have been protesting with barricades at the border crossings for the ninth day, and today KFOR members, after the protest was announced, installed barbed wire in Jarinje and increased security measures in this territory, Klix.ba reports.
As the ninth day passes since the Serbs in the north of Kosovo set up barricades due to the arrest of former policeman Dejan Pantić, the KFOR mission set up barbed wire this morning, after it was announced that a rally “Never Borders” will be held at the Jarinje border crossing.
Last night, KFOR warned the Serbs to stop the provocative demonstrations of force in the north of Kosovo and reiterated that they have enough capacity to ensure security.
“KFOR has the capacity and personnel to ensure security and a safe environment and free movement for all communities under our mandate arising from United Nations Resolution 1244,” KFOR said in a statement yesterday.
As Serbian media reports, members of KFOR installed, probably in the morning hours, barbed wire in Jarinje, and there are also several off-road vehicles with mission markings.
The police stopped the participants of the gathering of Serbs who came from central Serbia, Montenegro and Republika Srpska gathered about 300 meters from the crossing.
“We came here to show that our country exists,” said one of the protest participants. Previously, gathered Serbs near the border set fire to a banner that read “Brussels Agreement”.
At one point, there was an incident when the participants broke through the cordon and started running towards the crossing. After that, police officers with shields formed another cordon along the crossing itself.
Serbian extremists tried to enter Kosovo by protesting at the Jarinje border crossing between Serbia and Kosovo. This is happening in the middle of Europe in 2022! pic.twitter.com/bB4KyYUjDx
— Eren Beksaç (@rnbksc) December 18, 2022