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| ==Serbian POV version== | |||
| Clashes between ] in ] and the rebel ] ]{{ref label|status|a|}} began on 25 July 2011 when the ] crossed into the ] of ''']''', in an attempt to control several of the illegally created "border" crossings without the consultation of either Serbia, to which Kosovo legally remains a part, or ]/].<ref name="Kosovo special police">{{cite news|author=Mark Lowen |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14303165 |title=Kosovo tense after deadly clash on Serbian border |publisher=BBC |accessdate=2011-07-28 |date=27 July 2011| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20110728181514/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14303165| archivedate= 28 July 2011 <!--DASHBot-->| deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">{{Cite web |url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Kosovo-Serbia-Border-Row-Nato-Intervenes-After-Police-Try-To-Take-Over-Border-Control-Posts/Article/201107416038032?lpos=World_News_Second_World_News_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_16038032_Kosovo-Serbia_Border_Row%3A_Nato_Intervenes_After_Police_Try_To_Take_Over_Border_Control_Posts |title= Nato Steps In Amid Kosovo-Serbia Border Row |accessdate=8 September 2012}}</ref> Though tensions between the two sides eased somewhat after the intervention of ]'s KFOR forces, they continued to remain high amid concern from the EU, who also blamed Kosovo for the unilateral provocation.<ref name=AlJazeera1/> | |||
| ==Background== | |||
| The clashes occurred a long stand-off over cross-border trade. Since the declaration of independence, Kosovo's rebel administration has been unable to export anything to or via Central Serbia and Vojvodina (as collectively Kosovo, Vojvodina and Central Serbia compose the Republic of Serbia).<ref name="Kosovo special police"/> There was disruption to cross-border trade<ref name="autogenerated1"/> following Serbia's ban on Kosovar imports,<ref name="bbcremoval">{{cite news| url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-15355955 | work=BBC News | title=Kosovo Serbs defy Nato demands over blockades | date=18 October 2011}}</ref> although many jobs on both sides of the border depend on international trade.<ref name="economist.com">{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21525470?fsrc=scn%2Ffb%2Fwl%2Far%2Falittlelocaldifficulty|accessdate=19 November 2012|title=Kosovo and Serbia: A little local difficulty|work=]}}</ref> Serbia has also stationed troops in the northern region to enforce a boycott of goods from Kosovo proper.<ref name="aljaz"/> | |||
| There have been several skirmishes reported around the region with the ] clashing with Serbs.{{Citation needed|date=December 2011}} | |||
| Though KFOR had made implementation of the "vague ultimatums" to remove the barricades, Kosovar Serbs had in the past used mountainous tracts to cross between northern Kosovo and Serbia proper. At the same as the bridge dividing Kosovska Mitrovica was closed from transport to the south, the daily train to southern Serbia was packed. The EU also demanded that Serbia dismantle "the parallel structures" of government in Northern Kosovo. Serbia's Secretary of State for Kosovo, ] said: "We don't see these as 'parallel structures', we see these as the only structures, because we do not recognise the independence of Kosovo." He also said that a ] is out of the question, even though Serbian President ] said he was open to the possibility. The Serbs of North Kosovo do not acknowledge or cooperate with the rebel government of Kosovo.<ref name="economist.com"/> | |||
| Prior to the Kosovo Police's attempt to take over the border crossings on 26 July, the crossings were held by EULEX and Serbian members of the Kosovo Police.<ref name=AlJazeera1>{{cite web|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/europe/2011/07/20117275833470595.html |title=EU criticises Kosovo police operation - Europe |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date= |accessdate=2012-02-17}}</ref> | |||
| ==Goals== | |||
| ] | |||
| ], as part of the ], respects ] and defies the ] (the ] are under the control of the institutions of the ], disputed by the Kosovar ` Assembly). The unilaterally proclaimed ] seeks to impose its customs officials along its outline where it meets Central Serbia.<ref name=formation>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7455737.stm |title=Serbs form rival Kosovo assembly |publisher=BBC News |date=2008-06-14 |accessdate=2008-06-14}}</ref> Kosovar Serbs are seeking the removal of Kosovar Albanians customs officials from crossings with Serbia. In doing so they sough to erect road blocks that would make travel difficult for KFOR troops in the area seeking to maintain "law and order."<ref>{{cite web|author=Barnaby Phillips |url=http://blogs.aljazeera.net/europe/2011/10/16/kosovos-continuing-limbo |title=Kosovo's continuing limbo | Al Jazeera Blogs |publisher=Blogs.aljazeera.net |date= |accessdate=2012-02-17}}</ref> | |||