Kosovo government must take most of the blame for the latest violence, but any long-term solution will require a constructive response from Serbia as well

• Despite decades of western stabilisation efforts, the region remains mired in multiple inter-linked conflicts that are manipulated and exploited by local politicians.
• But this is only the latest in a set of worrying developments in relations between Albanians and Serbs in Kosovo and between Kosovo and Serbia.
• The mass resignation was a protest triggered by attempts to force ethnic Serb drivers to adopt official Kosovo number plates.

The west’s response

• It noted that the elections “do not offer a long-term political solution” for the four municipalities.
• Throughout the following four weeks, western diplomats sought to avert further escalation – but to little avail.
• The statement condemned “Kosovo’s decision to force access to municipal buildings in northern Kosovo despite our call for restraint”.

Entrenched divisions

• Once an autonomous province within the Serbian republic of the former socialist federation of Yugoslavia, its status is far from resolved.
• The conflict between Serbs and Albanians goes back for decades and builds on selective memories of a supposedly centuries-old confrontation between different ethnic groups.
• While recognised today by some 100 countries around the world, it remains opposed by Serbia, China and Russia.
• In addition, Kosovo is not recognised by five EU member states, four of which are Nato members.