Kosovo Serbs withdraw from country’s institutions

By Talha Ozturk

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) - Kosovo Serbs announced Saturday that they have withdrawn from all central and local institutions in Kosovo because of recent developments concerning license plates.

The move came after a meeting by the Serb List -- a minority political party in Kosovo in the Zvecan municipality.

Serbian representatives withdrew from the assembly, government and all Pristina institutions, as well as suspended their participation in the police and judiciary.

The head of Serb List, Goran Rakic, said the decision is in response to the Kosovo government's attempts to convert license plates given to Serbs by Serbian authorities to "RKS," or the Republic of Kosovo, license plates.

"It is precisely because of our determination to respect international public law and defend the Brussels Agreement that we have decided to leave all political institutions, the Assembly, the government and four municipalities and the participation and work of Serbs in the judiciary, the police and all administrative staff from the four municipalities in the north," he said in a statement.

Rakic said the decision will remain in effect until the establishment of the Union of Serbian Municipalities agreement within the scope of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels and all other deals are implemented.

He also announced his resignation as the Minister for Communities.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic urgently convened the government due to the developments.

''We will not give up on the politics of peace and stability,'' he said.

Vucic is expected to address the nation in the coming days.

Serbia neutralized a commercial drone Wednesday on the Kosovo border.

Vucic issued orders to the military Tuesday to destroy any enemy drones in the country’s airspace after unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) were spotted above military bases bordering Kosovo.

Prime Minister Ana Brnabic confirmed that drones had been spotted filming military bases.

Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said earlier that the armed forces are on alert as tensions escalate with neighboring Kosovo about the issue of car license plates.

Kosovo has tried many times this year to make its Serb minority renew their license plates which date before 1999 when Kosovo was part of Serbia. The move has resulted in violent clashes between police and Serbs.

Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia in 2008 but Serbia continues to see Kosovo as its territory.