Balkans | NATO increases its forces in Zvecan, northern Kosovo, where protests continue

The head of the Serb List, the largest Serb party in Kosovo, Goran Rakić, announced that, at their request, NATO’s peace force in Kosovo (KFOR) has deployed troops to 5 more points in Zvecan, northern Kosovo.

Serbs, who had been protesting since May 26, gathered in tents set up around a security cordon erected by NATO Peacekeeping Force (KFOR) soldiers in front of Zvecan municipality in the early hours of the morning.

It was noted that a group of miners also took part in the protest, with fewer people taking part than in previous days.

President Rakitic told reporters that they had received a positive response from Kfour to their request to deploy forces at various points in the region to avoid escalation.

Pointing out that KFOR soldiers are in the area to protect people who are protesting peacefully, Rakić said: “After our meeting yesterday with the American colonel in Kfor, we received guarantees and we see that they fulfill their promises. They deployed their forces at 5 points in the streets around the city to prevent the entry and accidents of the forces Special Police. I thank them for their understanding, it is very important to us.” Use phrases.

30 KFOR soldiers wounded

On May 26, Kosovo Serbs protested against the election of Albanian mayors who won local elections on April 23 in the municipalities of Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposavić, where Serbs are concentrated in northern Kosovo.

As protests continued in the area, the Kosovo Police and the International Security Force in Kosovo cordoned off municipal buildings with wire fences and increased the number of personnel in the area.

There was a clash between the Kosovo police, who were sent to the area to protect the Albanian mayors, and the Kosovo Serbs.

Serbia also decided to station its army on the border with Kosovo.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.