Terrorist attack in Kosovo
A group of around 30 heavily armed gunmen attacked police officers in northern Kosovo on the weekend. According to the Ministry of the Interior in Pristina, one policeman and three attackers were killed before the gunmen were surrounded in a monastery where they had taken refuge and then arrested. Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti called the attack an act of terrorism and blamed Serbia. Belgrade rejects the accusations.
The Balkans need the prospect of accession
The European Union has a duty here, says the Salzburger Nachrichten:
“The EU has neglected the Balkans since the last round of enlargement to the east. It was Russia's invasion of Ukraine that reminded us of how the European Union emerged from the world wars of the 20th century as a peace project. And that today, more than ever, it can also be that for the Balkans. No matter how the integration is realised or how much the EU has to reform itself in the process: the more concrete the accession prospects for the states of the Western Balkans become, the more pressure there will be for them to make peace with each other.”
EU diplomacy failing due to disunity
The EU's diplomatic approach vis-à-vis this Balkan hotspot isn't working, writes The Guardian:
“Brussels and Washington appear to have prioritised the need to keep Mr Vučić onside, given the country's regional influence and significant ties to Russia. In doing so, they risk neglecting the need to protect Kosovo from the machinations of a bullying and much larger neighbour that believes it has no right to exist. ... The EU also has to get its own house in order. Five EU members have so far not recognised Kosovo because of a false equivalence between the circumstances of its independence and their own minority issues. A more united Europe would be a more authoritative and effective mediator in a troubled and vital region.”
No peace with Vučić and Kurti in charge
Further escalations are inevitable, the Aargauer Zeitung warns:
“It's clear that as long as Kurti and Vučić are in power in their respective countries, the prospects for a peaceable solution to the Kosovo question will be zero. Instead, as has happened with increasing frequency in recent years, violent escalations will flare up and then subside under massive Western pressure - until the next incident leads to more deaths and casualties.”
Both sides may have vested interests
Both the Serbian and Kosovo governments could exploit the incident for their own purposes, Jutarnji list comments:
“More precise data is needed before any conclusions can be drawn. On the one hand, the attack could help Belgrade create a climate of instability during the ongoing government formation in Montenegro. The pro-Serbian parties want to be involved there and the conflict in Kosovo could be a warning that it would be better to let these political forces participate in the government rather than risk destabilisation. On the other hand, the Kosovo government could use the tragic incident to declare a state of emergency in northern Kosovo.”
A conflict that could quickly spread
An escalation of the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo would have unforeseeable consequences, Telegram warns:
“Kurti has no political leeway to back down. The same goes for Aleksandar Vučić, whose position could be undermined by the opposition demonstrations in Serbia. The result is a long-term and intractable stalemate - together with actors under pressure and a confused international situation, these are the ingredients for the worst-case scenario. ... Should the worst escalation occur, it would undoubtedly spill over into Bosnia and Herzegovina and most likely into Montenegro, with unforeseeable consequences for the entire region, but also for the EU.”