Serbia, Kosovo agree to reduce tension, EU announces

By Talha Ozturk and Omer Tugrul Cam

BELGRADE, Serbia (AA) – The European Union (EU) announced on Thursday that Serbia and Kosovo have reached an agreement to reduce tensions over license plates issue.

The two-day negotiations between Serbian and Kosovo officials, mediated by the EU, resulted in an agreement to defuse tensions that began when Kosovo refused to allow vehicles with Serbian license plates to enter its territory, said Miroslav Lajcak, the EU's Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue.

The issue sparked concerns that it might exacerbate tensions between the two Balkan neighbors.

“After two days of intense negotiations, an agreement on de-escalation and the way forward has just been reached,'' said Lajcak.

According to the 3-point agreement text shared by Lajcak on social media, the special police units sent at the Jarinje and Bernjak border gates will be withdrawn mutually and simultaneously from Oct. 2.

Prior to the withdrawal, the NATO Force in Kosovo (KFOR) will be deployed at these two border crossings. KFOR will be stationed there for about two weeks to ensure a safe environment and movement.

In addition, "stickers" will be affixed to vehicles as of October 4 as a temporary measure until a permanent solution is found.

In order to find a permanent solution to the license plate issue in line with EU standards and practices, a working group will be formed under the EU presidency, involving Kosovo and Serbian officials.

The working group will hold its first meeting in Brussels on Oct. 21 and will present its first findings for a permanent solution in a report within 6 months.

- Dispute

The dispute that started on Sept. 20 when Kosovo did not allow vehicles with Serbian license plates to enter its territory, lasted for a couple of weeks.

Kosovo has since made it illegal for vehicles with Serbian license plates to enter the country, forcing them to obtain a temporary plate.

The temporary license plates were placed on the windshields and rear windows of the vehicles, with the real license plates hidden behind them.

Under the new regulation, motorists with Serbian plates must replace them with 60-day temporary Kosovo plates.

Serbs in northern Kosovo reject the government in Pristina and oppose having to use a “Republic of Kosovo” license plate.

On Sept. 21, Kosovo Serbs protested and blocked roads leading to the Jarinje and Bernjak border gates, adding to the region's already high levels of tension.

Kosovo then deployed its special police units to the border, while Serbia sent military planes and tanks to show strength.

Already tense relations have grown worsened since the ethnic Albanian-led government dispatched police units to an area mainly populated by minority ethnic Serbs.

The EU and NATO have both called for de-escalation regarding this latest crisis.

The former Serbian province of Kosovo declared independence in February 2008. However, Belgrade still claims Kosovo as a breakaway province.​​​​​​​