Kosovo has accused the Serbian government of backing a deadly shootout that took place between 30 Serbian gunmen and Kosovo police in the northern region of Kosovo. Milan Radoicic, the leader of a minority Serbian political party in Kosovo, claimed responsibility for the attack but denied receiving help from Serbia.
In response to Kosovo's accusation, Serbia has deployed infantry, tanks, and advanced artillery systems along its border with Kosovo. Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, has not directly denied the buildup of military forces, but he has rejected claims that his country's military is preparing for combat.
This dispute likely has its roots in ethnicity and the war fought between Albanian rebels and Yugoslavia during 1998 and 1999. During this conflict, Albanian rebels fought for Kosovo's independence from Yugoslavia, which they eventually achieved when NATO intervened on their behalf. Serbia, which was part of Yugoslavia, never recognized Kosovo's independence, and the northern part of Kosovo is still home to many ethnic Serbians.
It will be interesting to see if liberalism and the economic interdependence of the 21st century will be enough to stop these countries from going to war, or if their ethnic differences will be too deeply ingrained such that military conflict is the only way to settle their differences.
By: Frank Kwak
Article: US urges Serbia to withdraw troops from Kosovo border as tensions rise - BBC News
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