European Commission threatens Serbia and Kosovo with "decisive measures" if violence continues
The European Commission on Saturday threatened Serbia and Kosovo with restrictive measures if they do not take steps to prevent further violence, after dozens of members of the international peacekeeping mission KFOR in Kosovo were injured in clashes with Serb protesters who do not recognise the outcome of local elections that Serbs in northern Kosovo boycotted, DPA and Agerpres report.
"The absence of a de-escalation of tensions will lead to negative consequences," European diplomacy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement issued by the European Commission.
The same text calls for a restoration of calm in northern Kosovo, where Serb demonstrators attacked KFOR troops this week with stones and Molotov cocktails during protests in the village of Zvecan, injuring more than 50 Serb protesters and 30 Hungarian and Italian KFOR soldiers.
In the statement issued on Saturday, Brussels also threatens Belgrade and Pristina with "decisive measures", without elaborating. But such measures could include cutting financial assistance to Serbia and Kosovo, which both aspire to EU membership, or scaling back cooperation.
"Violence can be avoided and must be avoided in the future," Borrell's message added, also calling on both sides to "stop the divisive rhetoric and refrain from further uncoordinated actions".
Serbs, who are the majority in northern Kosovo, reject Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia and refused to participate in April's local elections, which saw Albanian candidates win in four municipalities. Because of the Serb boycott, the turnout was only 3.5%. Ethnic Serbs therefore say they will not accept mayors who do not represent them.
