Serbia accepts cars with Kosovo license plates

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, 26 DIC - Belgrade will allow cars with Kosovo license plates to enter Serbia, a Serbian official announced on Tuesday, a decision that appears to pave the way for the resolution of a long-running dispute between Serbia and its neighbor, whose independence it does not recognize. The decision was taken to "facilitate the free movement of all vehicles" from Kosovo, Serbian public broadcaster RTS quoted the head of the Serbian office for Kosovo, Petar Petkovic, as saying on Tuesday. Until now, vehicles from Serbia or Kosovo have been able to cross the border provided they affix stickers to the national emblems visible on their license plates. This measure will come into force on January 1, said Mr. Petkovic. "Allowing all vehicles to travel (...) is a purely practical decision, to facilitate people's freedom of movement, and cannot be interpreted as recognition of the unilaterally proclaimed independence of so-called Kosovo", said Mr. Petkovic.
    Serbia had agreed to recognize Kosovo's license plates and vice versa following an agreement reached in 2011 under the aegis of the European Union, but the decision was never fully implemented. In 2022, Kosovo backtracked on a controversial decision to penalize drivers who failed to replace Serbian license plates with those issued by Pristina. Kosovo's Serb minority, which remains loyal to Belgrade and still considers itself part of Serbia despite Kosovo's independence in 2008, reacted by leaving local administrations in Serb-majority northern Kosovo and setting up roadblocks, a blockade movement punctuated by clashes with police. Since then, "99%" of Kosovo Serbs have voluntarily replaced their license plates with those issued by Pristina, added Mr. Petkovic, explaining that for them this was a necessity of daily life.The Kosovo government has not yet indicated whether it will take a similar reciprocal measure.
    mbs/mr/fal / (ANSA-AFP).