The government introduced the tax last year in retaliation for Belgrade blocking Kosovo, its former province, from joining the international police organization Interpol as a separate nation. Four Serb municipalities in Northern Kosovo have pledged alliance to Serbia and openly defy the government in Pristina. “The closure of all shops in Northern Kosovo … should demonstrate … that Serbs will not remain silent,” Veljko Odalovic, the Secretary General of Serbia’s foreign ministry told state-run RTS TV. The border with Serbia has been open to smuggling, which flourished after Pristina imposed its import taxes. Backed up by powerful ally Russia and several EU countries, it has been blocking Kosovo from joining international institutions.

Source: National Post July 01, 2019 12:33 UTC