The spiral of violence in Kosovo

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Kosovo

The spiral of violence in Kosovo

Eight years ago, declared Kosovo its independence from Serbia. However, the youngest country in Europe is in big trouble. With a demonstration, want the Opposition now to overthrow the government.

Protests against the government in Prishtina (9.1.2016)

The representatives of the international community are shocked by the violence of recent months in Kosovo. “The violence must not be used as a legitimate means for change of government are accepted,” said last Ernst Reichel, the Commissioner for South-Eastern Europe in the Federal foreign office, compared to the DW. “Even worse is that the Kosovar Opposition, never the violence itself. The debate in Parliament must be used with arguments, not with tear gas and Molotov cocktails.”

Opposition interferes regularly in the parliamentary sessions by tear gas

Since August last year, the Opposition has the parliamentary sessions with the use of tear gas, Eierwürfen and Pfeifkonzerten prevented. At the beginning she tried the government to force an EU-mediated agreement with Serbia on the establishment of the Association of new majority Serb-inhabited municipalities in Kosovo to take back. This agreement grants the Serbian minority broad autonomy rights have been granted. At the same time demanded the Opposition that the government is their signature under the agreement for the establishment of the border between Kosovo and Montenegro withdrawing. Parallel to the Blockade of the Parliament organized the Opposition also several violent demonstrations outside the Parliament and government buildings in Pristina.

Violence in Parliament and on the streets

In the meantime, the resignation of the government and new elections in Kosovo. “The government is the sovereignty of Kosovo at stake,” said one opposition leader, Ramush Haradinaj, in a conversation with the Kosovan television. On 9. January was the biggest Demonstration since the Declaration of independence eight years ago in Kosovo. Several Thousand Kosovars demonstrate in Pristina, in order to overthrow the government. The

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Protesters threw stones and Molotov cocktails. Reaction of the police with the use of tear gas. The protesters demand the resignation of the government and new elections, because the government is “against the interests of the country work”. There were dozens of injured policemen and protesters, as well as great damage to the government buildings. Several key members were arrested and later placed under house arrest.

The parties of the great coalition government in Kosovo, the democratic League (LDK) Prime Minister Isa Mustafa and democratic party (PDK), Minister of foreign Affairs Hashim Thaci – reject the demands of the Opposition, strictly. “There will be no resignation of the government and no elections. New elections in Kosovo only in the year 2018, instead of, as in the electoral law intended,” stressed Prime Minister Mustafa in his Facebook Account.

Explosive Situation

The situation remains, however, very explosive, my observers in Kosovo. “The Situation in Kosovo is alarming. The images of violence have the Image of the Kosovo a lot of damage,” said Safet Gerxhaliu, President of the chamber of Commerce in Kosovo, compared to the DW. “There is a great fear of social unrest and demonstrations, because the Kosovo is a very large economic problems.“ The youngest country in Europe has an unemployment rate of almost 40 percent. The ethnic tensions between Kosovo Albanians and Serbs are still high. The implementation of the agreements with Serbia is progressing slowly. Kosovo is so far from 112 countries recognised but not by five EU members, as well as Serbia, Russia, China and India. Most recently, the country also have membership in the UNESCO is denied. The Kosovars are the only people of Europe, for the entry in the EU requires a visa. The citizens no longer believe in a quick improvement in the situation. So left in the last two years, almost every Tenth of the Land and sought a better perspective in Germany and other European countries.

Election of the President

A very controversial point is the choice of the new Kosovo President. It comes after the coalition agreement between PDK and LDK, should the office of President, the current foreign Minister, Thaci to be occupied. However, Thaci in the first two rounds of voting a majority of two-thirds of the total of 120 deputies in the Kosovo Parliament. In the third attempt he would need only the absolute majority. Thaci is controversial, not only in the nationalist Opposition with all means tried, his choice to prevent, but also among some members of the ruling coalition. The election of the new President until the beginning of March.

Would like to be President: Hashim Thaci

Still think Gerxhaliu, that all the problems in a relatively short time can be solved. “On the way to the European family, there is no Alternative to dialogue, communication and partnership. Kosovo needs to the recommendations of the international friends from Berlin, Brussels, Washington, London, Paris and Vatican implement”. Also, the American Ambassador in Kosovo, Greg Delawie, is of the opinion that “all the problems in the Parliament need to be resolved”. The incumbent Kosovo President Atifete Jahjaga organized in the last week a “round table” between the government and the Oppositionsvertretern. However, the dialogue remained without success. “We see us at 17. February,“ said Ramush Haradinaj. And have them all in Pristina fear. On Wednesday, the eighth anniversary of the independence of Kosovo, expected to be the largest Demonstration after the Kosovo 1999. Observers believe that violence is not only conceivable, but be real.