The political crisis in Kosovo – the growing resistance to a deal with Serbia

The opposition in Kosovo protested against the deal signed in August 2015 with Serbia and against the border agreement with Montenegro. People took to the streets of Pristina on 28 November 2015 on the initiative of the three opposition parties: Vetëvendosje, the Initiative for Kosovo (Nisma) and the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo (AAK). The demonstration was attended by around 5,000 people, although the opposition claims that there were at least 35,000 demonstrators. After the protests, the police made arrests at the headquarters of Vetëvendosje. 96 people, including one leader, Albin Kurti, were detained. The agreement signed with Serbia in August guaranteed extensive rights to the union of the ten Serb communes (the Serb minority consists of 110,000 people, and the total population of the country is 2 million). These concern above all healthcare, education, spatial planning and economic development, and actions taken to this effect can be financed by the Serbian government. The union of the Serb communes (ZSO) also have its own institutions (president, council and assembly).

ESO: Background information: Kosovo freezes EU-brokered deal with Serbia http://www.europeansources.info/record/kosovo-freezes-eu-brokered-deal-with-serbia/

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