Dispute between Serbia and Kosovo over train crossing border

Tension between Serbia and Kosovo escalated in January 2017 following the refusal by Kosovan authorities to allow into the territory a train connecting Belgrade and Mitrovica.

That train would have been the first since 2008 to connect the two cities. It was painted in Serbian colours and the words 'Kosovo is Serbia'. Kosovo saw the train as a deliberate provocation.

As tensions grew, Serbia's president said that he would be willing to send the army to defend Serbs in Kosovo, if necessary. Most Serbs in that territory live in the border town of Mitrovica.

• Primary Source

TASS, 16.01.17: Vucic: Peace in Kosovo sustained only due to Serbia’s wisdom http://tass.com/world/925141

BBC News, 15.01.17: Serbia-Kosovo train row escalates to military threat http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38630152

The Guardian, 15.01.17: Serbian president warns Kosovo after reports of planned attack https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/15/serbia-tomislav-nikolic-kosovo-ethnic-albanians-train

The Independent, 15.01.17: Kosovo stops Serbian train crossing border in move declared 'act of war' http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/kosovo-stops-serbia-train-crossing-border-belgrade-war-isa-mustafa-aleksandar-vucic-a7528361.html

The New York Times, 15.01.17: Serbian Leader Accuses Kosovo of ‘Wanting War’ After Train Is Turned Back https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/15/world/europe/serbia-kosovo-border-train.html

Euronews, 15.01.17: War of words as Kosovo stops 'provocative' Serbian train http://www.euronews.com/2017/01/15/war-of-words-as-kosovo-stops-provocative-serbian-train

B92, 15.01.17: 'If Serbs are killed, we'll send army to Kosovo' - president http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2017&mm=01&dd=15&nav_id=100237

Balkan Insight, 14.01.17: Serbia Accuses Kosovo of Planning Attack on Train http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/serbian-pm-kosovo-tried-to-provoke-conflict--01-14-2017

Deutsche Welle, 15.01.17: Serbia warns of Kosovo intervention amid train dispute http://dw.com/p/2VphA

Deutsche Welle, 14.01.17: Serbia sends 'provocative' train to Kosovo http://dw.com/p/2Vo8b

Sputnik International, 15.01.17: Serbian President Vows to Send Troops to Kosovo If Serbs 'Massacred' http://sptnkne.ws/dqjK

Euro|Topics: Debates, January 2017: Row over train between Serbia and Kosovo http://www.eurotopics.net/en/172789/row-over-train-between-serbia-and-kosovo

EurActiv, 18.01.17: Serbia counts on Trump over Kosovo http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/serbia-counts-on-trump-over-kosovo/

Politico, 24.01.17: Kosovo, Serb dispute threatens to derail Balkan peace http://www.politico.eu/article/eu-kosovo-serbia-train-dispute-eu-mogherini-vucic-thaci/

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