Belgrade Loses the Advantage

Banjska, September 25 2023 (BETAPHOTO/SASA DJORDJEVIC)

The attack of an armed group of Kosovo Serbs on the Kosovo police in the area of the village of Banjska, and the exchange of fire that ensued, is the most serious incident since the start of the Belgrade–Pristina negotiations in Brussels and is a potential watershed in the dialogue. Three days after the armed conflict, neither the motives nor the inspirators of the attack are known, and no scenario should be ruled out. What is certain is that Belgrade’s position is considerably worse than it was before the incident, which will probably accelerate the process of resolving the Kosovo issue.