Serbia and Kosovo, on Sunday, are experiencing moments of tension on the borders of Yaringa and Prancak.
Serb residents of Kosovo blocked the road with trucks at the border point of the municipality of Leposavic. The Kosovo Police announced the closure of the border crossings at these two locations to traffic and advised citizens to use other routes. The Serbian government denies the army’s entry into Kosovo.
The escalation of tension stems from a new measure to be implemented from August 1, this Monday, which requires about 50,000 Serbs residing in the north to use registration plates and documents issued by Serbian authorities, refusing to recognize Pristina institutions, to use documents issued by the Kosovo government. Kosovo has been recognized as an independent country by more than 100 countries, but not by Serbia or Russia.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti’s government said it would give Serbs a 60-day transition period from August 1 to obtain Kosovo registration plates, a year after they abandoned their attempt to impose them on similar protests. The government also decided that from August 1, all Serb citizens visiting Kosovo will have to obtain an additional document at the border to be granted entry permits.
The Belgrade authorities apply a similar rule to Kosovars visiting Serbia.
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