MITROVICA, Kosovo (Reuters) – Kosovo reopened its most important border crossing point with Serbia on Thursday, hours after Serbs in the north of the country pledged to lift roadblocks, two moves that could defuse tensions .
The European Union and the United States have pressured Serbia and Kosovo, its former province, for “unconditional de-escalation” as the two sides felt they were on the brink of armed conflict.
Serbia for its part lifted the state of military alert declared three days ago on Thursday, according to Tanjug, citing sources in the cabinet of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
Serbs in northern Kosovo have erected roadblocks since December 10 to protest the arrest of a former Serbian policeman – the latest in a long series of catalytic events. They agreed to take them down after the officer was placed under house arrest.
Many roadblocks, however, were still in place on Thursday morning; dismantling them could take time, protesters said.
The climate remains no less conflictual.
Two trucks carrying gravel were set on fire at a bridge near the town of Mitrovica, some 50 km from the reopened Merdare border post. Kosovo police said they were investigating foul play.
Two other border crossing points with Serbia in northern Kosovo have remained closed since December 10.
(Report by Fatos Bytyci; French version Jean Rosset; editing by Sophie Louet)
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