NATO troops attacked hundreds of Kosovar Serbs today as part of an effort to destroy blockades set up by protesters in the region, leaving at least 40 civilians injured and one of them in serious condition.
Tear gas and pepper spray were fired against demonstrators, as well as against crowds of civilians who happened to be near the site of barricades, and locals expressed shock at the severity of NATO’s response.
“We had a great relationship with KFOR (NATO’s Kosovo Force) before this. I don’t know what happened to them,” one protester noted. The Kosovar Serbs have been protesting efforts by their government, dominated by ethnic Albanians, to close off trade with neighboring Serbia.
And while NATO reported that the barricades set up by the Serbs have been destroyed, allowing troops into the border posts to close them off, many of the demonstrators appeared to raise the prospect of setting up new ones, saying that they are willing to continue for months if necessary.
"The Kosovar Serbs have been protesting efforts by their government, dominated by ethnic Albanians, to close off trade with neighboring Serbia."
WOW. Just WOW. It's not their government, and Serbia isn't a neighboring state.
On which criteria do you base this statement, is it de facto, or de jure? The facts on the ground are the government in Priština has zero presence in the north, all the institutions there are Serbian. As for law the whole of Kosovo is Serbian territory as per UNSCR1244. North of Kosovo is Serbian territory administered by the UN both de jure and as a matter of fact. There isn't one criteria under which the north is part of Empire's puppet state governed from Priština.
It's one thing to shun the politics of recognition and just describe things the way they are on the ground, but that's not what you do. You not only talk about an independent Albanian state in Kosovo (which is a fact if we ignore the issue of its formal dependency to the UN and the EU). You actually talk about this state stretching over the Serbian north which is 100% fiction.
You do not even mention the fiction that is Serbian sovereignty over Kosovo (which is at least fiction grounded in international law and supported by the UN), but sign under the fiction that is the Priština government in the north of Kosovo? Why the double standard?
This is very disappointing coming from antiwar.com, especially as it has been recurring. Please talk with someone who can explain you just how problematic is your characterization.
Another example of intervening where we are not wanted by the majority to help a minority,and those Serbs aint gonna forget our stupidity.Come home America,and stop supplying weaponry that creates these disasters.But of course our monsters are freshly renewed by the success?of our intervention in Libya,and are feeling their oats,so look out world.
Here we go again. Deja vouz.
Further to Karl's comments can you please stop using the term 'Kosovar'. This was invented by the Clinton Administration and has no meaning. The ALbanians don't refer to themselves as 'Kosovars' nor do the Serbs.