Protesters Burn EU Flag in Northern Kosovo
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KOSOVSKA MITROVICA, Kosovo — Up to 2,000 Serb protesters rallied against Kosovo’s independence in the new nation’s tense north today, and a few set fire to EU flags in what has become a daily challenge of the country’s secession from Serbia.
The protesters gathered beneath a banner that read “Kosovo is Serbia” and listened to speeches by local Serb leaders in the ethnically divided town of Kosovska Mitrovica — as they’ve done every day since Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian leadership proclaimed statehood on February 17.
Serbs consider Kosovo the heart of their ancient homeland and the cradle of their Serbian Orthodox faith, and reject its independence as illegal.
Protesters also burned a poster showing Secretary of State Rice with Serbia’s pro-Western president, Boris Tadic. Mr. Tadic opposes Kosovo’s independence but advocates maintaining economic and political ties with America and other Western countries, despite their recognition of Kosovo’s statehood.
Prime Minister Kostunica of Serbia, in contrast, advocates severing relations with all states that recognize Kosovo’s independence.
U.N. police guarded the main bridge separating the town’s Serb and ethnic Albanian sides, and today’s protest was peaceful.
Earlier, a senior Serbian official entered Kosovo to visit Serb communities — a move Kosovo’s deputy prime minister denounced as a provocation.
Serbia’s minister for Kosovo, Slobodan Samardzic, was making a one-day visit today — eight days after Kosovo declared independence from Serbia — to meet with Kosovo’s Serb minority and with the top U.N. official, Joachim Ruecker.
U.N. officials originally announced they wouldn’t let Mr. Samardzic enter Kosovo, but changed their minds.
Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian deputy prime minister, Hajredin Kuqi, called Mr. Samardzic’s visit a “provocation” by Serbia, which refuses to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
“Unfortunately, the government of Serbia is continuing with provocation regarding Kosovo’s future,” Mr. Kuqi said.
“I hope they are understanding the position that Kosovo is now an independent state,” he said. “They need to build some bridges for cooperation with Kosovo, but … they are provoking us, provoking our people, and raising tension in Kosovo.”
