[ad_1] <br><div><p>Russia's <a target="_blank" class="internal-link" href="https://news.google.com/en/war-in-ukraine/t-60931789" rel="noopener">war in Ukraine</a> is maybe being watched nowhere extra intently in Europe than in Kosovo. As the photographs of rolling tanks and bombings began enjoying out throughout screens in late February, many residents of the southeastern European nation had been instantly transported again to the struggle with <a target="_blank" class="internal-link" href="https://news.google.com/en/serbia/t-19068624" rel="noopener">Serbia</a> over twenty years in the past, the results of which they nonetheless really feel immediately.</p>
<p>"It sort of reinstated that there won't be long-term stability, this concern of 'you're subsequent,' particularly since Serbia is understood to have a particular relationship with Russia," mentioned 24-year-old Taulant.</p>
<p>The older era is much more inclined to count on the worst. "My members of the family instructed me, 'It is only a matter of time till this occurs to us too'," mentioned 25-year-old Hana about her older relations. "Lots of collective traumas rose to the floor."</p>
<p>In the course of the struggle in 1998-1999, over 13,000 Kosovar lives had been misplaced and a few 1 million individuals had been displaced. The struggle ended 15 months later when NATO intervened.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" class="internal-link" href="https://news.google.com/en/kosovo/t-19111797" rel="noopener">Kosovo</a> finally proclaimed independence from Serbia in 2008. Though Germany, a lot of Europe, and the US acknowledge Kosovo as a sovereign state, Serbia doesn't. Russia, which backs Belgrade, additionally doesn't acknowledge Kosovo.</p><figure class="placeholder-image free_image big"><img data-format="FREE_IMAGE" data-id="63926005" src="https://static.dw.com/image/63926005_${formatId}.png" alt="Map of Kosovo showing Pristina, Mitrovica and Bernjak" style="padding-bottom: 124.37%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/></figure>
<h2>Tracing parallels between Ukraine and Kosovo</h2>
<p>With the reminiscence of struggle nonetheless current, many in Kosovo see the parallels between Ukraine and tensions with their very own neighbor.</p>
<p>"What is occurring in Ukraine has as soon as once more introduced again the reminiscence that struggle is one thing actual, particularly when we've got neighbors who deny us the fitting to exist," mentioned Arben Hajrullahu, professor and head of the Political Science Division at Kosovo's College of Prishtina. "If NATO forces weren't in Kosovo immediately, struggle would get away tomorrow."</p>
<p>When it comes to political rhetoric, there are similarities between Russia and Serbia. Throughout heightened border tensions this summer season, Vladimir Djukanovic, a member of parliament for Serbia's ruling occasion, tweeted that Belgrade could also be "<a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" class="external-link" href="https://twitter.com/adv_djukanovic/status/1553675476123762690?s=20&t=hPBIcCOX8Bf6e-sJsPP3Jg" title="External link — forced to begin the denazification of the Balkans">forced to begin the denazification of the Balkans<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><path d="M11.5 3.5 11.5 4.233C14.342 4.233 15.167 4.245 15.167 4.258L8.984 10.467 10.033 11.516C14.826 6.725 16.228 5.333 16.242 5.333L16.267 9 17.733 9 17.733 2.767 11.5 2.767 11.5 3.5M2.267 11 2.267 17.233 16.733 17.233 16.733 12 15.267 12 15.25 15.75 9.5 15.75 3.75 15.75 3.75 6.25 9.5 6.233 9.5 4.767 2.267 4.767 2.267 11 "/></svg></a>” — a phrase that echoes language the Kremlin used to justify invading Ukraine. He later apologized, however not earlier than many in Kosovo took be aware.</p>
<p>As with Russia, Serbia has refused to simply accept the borders of its smaller neighbor. "Serbia's stance has been to reiterate its territorial integrity and to argue that these insisting on Ukraine's territorial integrity are both hypocritical or inconsistent in relation to Serbia," author and former diplomat Ian Bancroft instructed DW.</p>
<h2>The Russia-Serbia connection</h2>
<p>Russia's help for Serbia's stance on Kosovo has not wavered for the reason that Kosovo struggle. Except for their historic and cultural ties, Russia and Serbia additionally share a mutual antipathy in direction of NATO.</p>
<p>"Serbia is an island inside Europe, a sort of Malicious program serving primarily based on the free will and the insurance policies of Russia," mentioned political scientist Hajrullahu.</p>
<p>The shut ties between Moscow and Belgrade are a problem of consternation in Europe. At a time when the EU is working in direction of disintegrating enterprise with Russia, a "plan of consultations" drafted by Serbia's Overseas Minister Nikola Selekovic and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the finish of September raised fairly just a few eyebrows in Brussels.</p>
<p>Though the doc, which referred to as for extra bilateral actions didn't embrace safety insurance policies, it was met with criticism, on condition that Serbia is an EU candidate nation.</p><figure class="placeholder-image master_landscape big"><img data-format="MASTER_LANDSCAPE" data-id="63261444" src="https://static.dw.com/image/63261444_${formatId}.jpg" alt="A photo of Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Serbia's Foreign Minister Nikola Selakovic signing agreements at a large desk" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/><figcaption class="img-caption">Russia's Overseas Minister Sergei Lavrov (l) and his Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic signal " a plans of consultations"<small class="copyright">Picture: Russian Overseas Ministry/ITAR-TASS/imago photos</small></figcaption></figure>
<h2>Disinformation marketing campaign spreads polarization</h2>
<p>Russia’s President Vladimir Putin incessantly invokes the reminiscence of NATO's intervention within the Kosovo struggle to stoke animosity within the area in opposition to the western alliance.</p>
<p>"Russia and Serbia are excited about presenting Kosovo as a failure at any price," Hajrullahu mentioned. The intention is to wreck Kosovo's worldwide picture whereas fanning unrest internally, added the Prishtina professor. To this finish, they make use of disinformation techniques and propaganda.</p>
<p>“Russia needs to see political instability and polarization, and that is achieved finest should you play on the large polarization between Serbs and Albanians," mentioned Franziska Tschinderle, a Balkan correspondent for German-speaking media, primarily based in Tirana.</p>
<p>Russia’s disinformation marketing campaign has steadily unfold by way of Kosovo's northern area, based on Kosovars. It's right here, within the cities with a big Serbian inhabitants, that some posters show Vladimir Putin.</p><div class="vjs-wrapper embed big"><h2 aria-label="Embedded video — Albin Kurti on Conflict Zone" class="headline"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 20 20"><g fill-rule="evenodd"><path d="M14.114 7.599H13.5l.002 4.706h.601l4.582 3.25-.005-11.11zM11.084 4.444l-9.007.002-1.336.797.002 9.514 1.334.793 9.007.006 1.509-.799-.004-9.516z"/></g></svg>Albin Kurti on Battle Zone</h2><video id="video-63418891" controls="" playsinline="" preload="none" poster="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAEAAAABCAQAAAC1HAwCAAAAC0lEQVR42mNkYAAAAAYAAjCB0C8AAAAASUVORK5CYII=" data-id="63418891" data-posterurl="https://static.dw.com/image/62859642_605.jpg" data-duration="26:06"><source src="https://hlsvod.dw.com/i/dwtv_video/flv/cz/cz20221012_gesamtHD_,AVC_480x270,AVC_512x288,AVC_640x360,AVC_960x540,AVC_1280x720,AVC_1920x1080,.mp4.csmil/master.m3u8" type="application/x-mpegURL"><source src="https://tvdownloaddw-a.akamaihd.net/dwtv_video/flv/cz/cz20221012_gesamtHD_AVC_1920x1080.mp4" type="video/mp4"><p class="vjs-no-js">To view this video please allow JavaScript, and contemplate upgrading to an internet browser that <a target="_blank" href="https://videojs.com/html5-video-support/" rel="noopener">supports HTML5 video</a></p></source></source></video></div>
<p>"That is the place we've got issues, as there's a large Russian affect in these areas," mentioned Kreshnik Gashi, Managing Editor at Kallxo, a web-based platform that experiences on corruption in Kosovo.</p>
<p>The propaganda goals at dividing ethnic Serbs and Albanians in Kosovo, and ends in spreading disinformation. "The Serbian inhabitants in Kosovo wants a reputable supply to be told by," Gashi mentioned, referring to a scarcity of neutral Serbian-speaking media inside Kosovo.</p>
<p>Exterior politics, the polarization between ethnic Serbs and Albanians is much less pronounced, based on journalist Tschinderle, who has spent a lot time in Mitrovica, a municipality in northern Kosovo. "In every day life, they actually don't have any issues with one another," she mentioned.</p>
<p>"What's of their approach is the federal government on each side, particularly the Serbian authorities. There isn't any political freedom or freedom of expression within the northern half and an environment of concern," she mentioned, utilizing the instance of the current <a target="_blank" class="internal-link" href="https://news.google.com/en/kosovo-closes-two-border-crossings-with-serbia-amid-rising-tensions/a-62663869" rel="noopener">border tensions</a>in Kosovo in addition to the dispute over identification paperwork.</p>
<figure class="placeholder-image master_landscape big"><img data-format="MASTER_LANDSCAPE" data-id="62665035" src="https://static.dw.com/image/62665035_${formatId}.jpg" alt="Gendarmes and security forces stand near their cars, which block the road" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/><figcaption class="img-caption">Safety forces block the highway close to the Kosovo-Serbian border in Mitrovica in July, 2022<small class="copyright">Picture: Erkin Kevßi/AA/image alliance</small></figcaption></figure>
<h2>Stalling full statehood</h2>
<p>Past sowing polarization, many Kosovars consider that the aim of Moscow and Belgrade is to derail Kosovo’s independence course of and stop it from getting into the EU. Of the 27 EU member states, 5 nonetheless haven't acknowledged Kosovo's sovereignty. With out these final endorsements, Kosovo can not start the <a target="_blank" class="internal-link" href="https://news.google.com/en/kosovo-to-apply-for-eu-membership-by-the-end-of-2022/a-62094745" rel="noopener">EU membership process</a>, which is slated to start out on the finish of 2022.</p>
<p>"The stalling of recognition — and certainly derecognitions lobbied for by Belgrade — has prevented the consolidation of Kosovo's statehood," former diplomat Ian Bancroft defined to DW in an e-mail.</p>
<p>However Kosovars don't have any intentions of letting the propaganda and aggressive rhetoric deter them. "Kosovo intends to maneuver ahead, ideally along with all its neighbors," mentioned Hajrullahu. "But when the neighboring Serbia decides to take a special route, Kosovo can and won't compromise its democracy and freedom."</p>
<p>In opposition to the backdrop of Russia’s struggle in Ukraine and simmering tensions with Serbia, individuals in Kosovo do discover it onerous not to wonder if one other violent battle lies across the nook. However additionally they discover reassurance in a single important distinction: NATO is current in Kosovo.</p><figure class="placeholder-image master_landscape big"><img data-format="MASTER_LANDSCAPE" data-id="62882082" src="https://static.dw.com/image/62882082_${formatId}.jpg" alt="More than a dozen soldiers stand on a road just near the Kosovo-Serbia border crossing" style="padding-bottom: 56.25%; height: 0; max-height: 0;"/><figcaption class="img-caption">NATO troopers patrol close to the northern Kosovo border crossing of Jarinje, alongside the Kosovo-Serbia border<small class="copyright">Picture: Visar Kryeziu/AP/image alliance</small></figcaption></figure>
<p><em>Edited by: Alex Matthews and Kristin Zeier</em></p> </div><script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <br>[ad_2] <br><a href="https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiVWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmR3LmNvbS9lbi9ydXNzaWFzLXdhci1pbi11a3JhaW5lLWhhcy1hLXJpcHBsZS1lZmZlY3Qtb24ta29zb3ZvL2EtNjM5MjQ1MjfSAVVodHRwczovL2FtcC5kdy5jb20vZW4vcnVzc2lhcy13YXItaW4tdWtyYWluZS1oYXMtYS1yaXBwbGUtZWZmZWN0LW9uLWtvc292by9hLTYzOTI0NTI3?oc=5">Source link </a>