France ‘very concerned’ about situation in Kosovo

ANKARA (AA) – France is “very concerned” about the situation in Muslim north Kosovo, a foreign ministry statement has said.

“France is very concerned about the situation in North Kosovo and strongly condemns the unacceptable attack on the EULEX Kosovo mission and all the acts of violence on the ground,” said the statement.

“France fully supports the European mediation, which must make progress on a comprehensive, legally binding agreement between Serbia and Kosovo and make headway on the two countries’ prospects of a future in Europe,” it added.

French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna will discuss this issue with her European counterparts at the EU foreign ministers meeting that will be taking place in Brussels on December 19.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo

Kosovo is a Muslim majority Balkan republic predominantly inhabited by Albanians who broke from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008. However, Serbia never recognized the internationally endorsed independence and sees Kosovo as a part of its own territory. Serbs have historically oppressed ethnic Muslim communities of the Balkans, and Kosovars fit into the pattern.

Tensions between the two flared last month when Kosovo attempted to require ethnic Serbs to change their vehicle license plates that date before 1999 to Pristina-issued plates. The decision led ethnic Serbs in Kosovo to withdraw from all central and local institutions.

A snap election was announced in four northern municipalities for December 18 after ethnic Serb representatives resigned from their posts.

However, Kosovo has postponed the elections over security concerns, and the vote will now be held next April.

Earlier this week, some election centers were damaged and shooting was heard in those areas, raising fears of an escalation in tensions.