|
News Code
116824
Copied
Kosovo stops ‘provocative’ Serbia train at border
TIN news: The train, which had departed Belgrade and was headed for Pristina, was denied entry to the tiny Balkan country on Saturday. It had been painted in the colors of the Serbian flag and inscribed with the words “Kosovo is Serbia” down its sides.
Denouncing the move as “completely unacceptable,” Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci said the Serbian train had not been cleared by the authorities to enter the country and, therefore, he had ordered police special units to the border to halt the progress of the train.
“Anything that is illegal and threatens Kosovo’s state sovereignty must be prevented. This train is the latest provocation and authorities in Kosovo must use all legal means to stop this train immediately,” he said.
Denouncing the move as “completely unacceptable,” Kosovo’s President Hashim Thaci said the Serbian train had not been cleared by the authorities to enter the country and, therefore, he had ordered police special units to the border to halt the progress of the train.
“Anything that is illegal and threatens Kosovo’s state sovereignty must be prevented. This train is the latest provocation and authorities in Kosovo must use all legal means to stop this train immediately,” he said.
A man passes a train with nationalistic decoration and bound for Kosovo at the main railway station in Belgrade, Serbia, January 14, 2017. (Photo by AFP)
In a news conference later in day, Kosovo’s Prime Minister Isa Mustafa also said, “I believe that turning back the train was the appropriate action and its entry into the independent and sovereign Republic of Kosovo would not be allowed.”
In reaction to the Saturday incident, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he had ordered the train to return to Belgrade from the border because of fears it would come under attack.
He claimed that Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians had tried to mine the railway and accused authorities in Pristina of attempting to trigger a conflict with the local Kosovo Serbs.
“Serbia wants peace... but this is my final plea and a clear warning to Albanians and a message to Serbs... do not attempt to use weapons against Serbs in Kosovo as Serbia will not allow that,” Vucic said, without elaborating.
Kosovo, whose population is predominantly ethnic Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 as the Republic of Kosovo. It has so far received international recognition from about 100 countries. However, Belgrade refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence and still continues to claim it as its own Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.
Kosovo and Serbia were at war from 1998 to 1999, which ended after Serbian armed forces withdrew from the territory.
The bloody war between invading Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas claimed some 13,000 lives, most of whom were ethnic Albanians.
In the wake of the war, tens of thousands of local Serbs fled Kosovo, fearing reprisals from the ethnic Albanian majority.
In reaction to the Saturday incident, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he had ordered the train to return to Belgrade from the border because of fears it would come under attack.
He claimed that Kosovo’s ethnic Albanians had tried to mine the railway and accused authorities in Pristina of attempting to trigger a conflict with the local Kosovo Serbs.
“Serbia wants peace... but this is my final plea and a clear warning to Albanians and a message to Serbs... do not attempt to use weapons against Serbs in Kosovo as Serbia will not allow that,” Vucic said, without elaborating.
Kosovo, whose population is predominantly ethnic Albanian, declared independence from Serbia in February 2008 as the Republic of Kosovo. It has so far received international recognition from about 100 countries. However, Belgrade refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence and still continues to claim it as its own Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija.
Kosovo and Serbia were at war from 1998 to 1999, which ended after Serbian armed forces withdrew from the territory.
The bloody war between invading Serbian forces and ethnic Albanian guerrillas claimed some 13,000 lives, most of whom were ethnic Albanians.
In the wake of the war, tens of thousands of local Serbs fled Kosovo, fearing reprisals from the ethnic Albanian majority.