- Serbia wants to start dismantling the street barricades.
- This was announced by President Aleksandar Vucic after meeting Serbs from northern Kosovo.
- The Kosovan government in Pristina then announced that it was reopening the largest border crossing to Serbia.
There are signs of easing in the conflict between Serbia and Kosovo: Serbia will begin dismantling the barricades on Thursday, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. The news came after the President met Serbs from northern Kosovo in the Serbian town of Raška. However, the eviction could take a while, said Vucic.
On Thursday afternoon, Kosovo then announced that it would reopen its largest border crossing with Serbia. The government in Pristina is reacting to promises by the Serbian minority in the north of the country to lift the road blockades.
Tensions flare up again
The 19-day roadblocks were set up by demonstrators demanding the release of a former Serbian police officer. He is said to have attacked Kosovo police officers during a demonstration. Following the blockades, Kosovo closed three border crossings, including one of the most important crossings near the city of Podujevo.
Around 50,000 Serbs live in the north of the predominantly Albanian Kosovo. They refuse to recognize Kosovo as a state and are supported in this by the government in Belgrade. The conflict has been smoldering for more than 20 years. In 2008, with Western support, Kosovo declared its independence.