Kosovo interior minister denied entry to Serbia

PRISTINA, Kosovo

The interior minister of Kosovo this week was not allowed entry into neighboring Serbia, Kosovar authorities said on Wednesday.

Xhelal Svechla's request to visit Presevo, a region in Serbia with a large Albanian population, on Monday and Tuesday was rejected by Serbia, said Kosovo’s Foreign and Diaspora Ministry.

The statement said Svecla had intended to attend a meeting with representatives of the Albanian National Council in Presevo. The population of Kosovo is over 92% Albanian.

While Kosovo had completed all necessary procedures, the request was denied by Serbia, the statement said.

The statement also highlighted that, in the past two days, Serbia had rejected the requests of senior Kosovo government officials, particularly for visits to Presevo.

These actions seek to maintain high tension between Kosovo and Serbia, the statement added.

In addition, Serbia's Information and Telecommunication Minister Dejan Ristic’s entry into Kosovo was also denied, said Serbian authorities. Kosovo has a small ethnic Serb minority, most living in northern Kosovo, near the border with Serbia.

Kosovo declared independence in 2008, a move recognized by the US, Türkiye, and the European Union, among others. Serbia, however, still considers Kosovo part of its own territory.

Kosovo and Serbia have had tense relations for years, often over the ethnic Serb minority in northern Kosovo, which has seen unrest.