Kosovo: Violence Begets Violence

In his April 6 report on Kosovo to the UN Security Council (S/2010/169), the UN Secretary General notes that the “overall security situation in Kosovo remained relatively calm but fragile.” In this regard, he expressed concern about “the possibility of increased tensions in northern Kosovo, should the implementation of the strategy for northern Kosovo by the authorities in Pristina not take place in conditions of transparency and dialogue with local communities and all relevant stakeholders.” In fact, the potential for violence in the north remains just under the surface and can be set off by events even below the Ibar, as witnessed in the aftermath of the Kosovo authorities’ violent dismantling of the Serbian phone network in the southern areas.

Explosions are not atypical ways of delivering messages in Kosovo. Generally, in the north at least, no one gets hurt. Since the Kosovo government used explosives to blow up the Serbian telecoms facilities last week, “unidentified persons” retaliated by blowing up cell phone towers used by operators from the south to deliver service north of the Ibar. Faculties were reportedly bombed in Leposavić, Zubin Potok and north Mitrovica over the weekend of April 24. Another was apparently attacked on April 29. Telecom Serbia also responded to the attacks on their facilities in the south by placing guards on their installations in the north. The Serbian government representative for north Mitrovica called on northern Serbs “who have been extremely cooperative and allowed mobile telephony equipment of companies owned by ethnic Albanians to be installed on their property” to “reconsider their decision.” Until recently, the “Albanian” cell phone systems were tolerated in the north.

Perhaps not directly connected, explosions also destroyed a car in north Mitrovica on April 23 while a grenade was reportedly thrown at the Kosovo Police Station in Zubin Potok on the 29th. One of the great successes of peacekeeping bequeathed to EULEX by the UN was the continued acceptance in the north of the Kosovo Police Service (KPS) though the Serbs serving in Kosovo uniform must walk a careful line within their communities. (The KPS commander for north Mitrovica periodically comes under pressure both from Serb extremists and Albanians for his effort to carry on his duties in a professional manner.)

It must be understood that the north remains contested territory: the Serbs have it, the Albanians refuse to let it go. Although Belgrade may be willing to accept certain trade-offs in Kosovo to please the EU – and has been able to keep the northerners from taking any provocative actions – the northern Serbs themselves feel their lives and communities threatened. They understand that they cannot win a test of force with the Albanians – who have superior numbers and NATO support – and have left unmolested the thousands of Albanians living north of the Ibar. But violence used against those who already feel cornered could unleash a violent response in the north uncontrollable by anyone. In these circumstances, violence begets violence. Peacekeeping remains the essential responsibility of the international community and this requires constant efforts to prevent provocations as well as readiness to respond quickly and in a balanced, measured fashion to contain any that may occur. The war over Kosovo is not fully over, it remains merely frozen.