Continuous, Uncontrolled Violence in Kosovo Sparks Fear in Europe

Political Analyst has worried that the situation in Kosovo violence will become even tenser as the fifth anniversary of the launch of Nato's air strikes on next Wednesday is approaching.

The persecution of Kosovo Albanians, led to the start of Nato air strikes in March 1999. Serbian forces were driven out in the summer of 1999 and the UN took over the administration of the province. Serbs recall how they became the targets of violence and expulsion after the Serb security forces were withdrawn from Kosovo.

Most critically, Nato’s air strikes reminds Albanians of Belgrade's campaign of ethnic cleansing against them and the extreme emotions kindled may be a fuel of war.

Others have been enraged by the suggestion of the new Serbian Prime Minister, Vojislav Kostunica, that Kosovo should be divided into cantons along ethnic lines. The Albanians reject this policy and it amounts to Kosovo’s partition.

Analyst also says, earlier this month, there was first substantive negotiation between the Albanian and Serb officials since the war. Albanians opposed to talks with Belgrade may also have inspired some of the violence. The talks were the first substantive negotiations between the two sides since the Nato’s air strikes.

The violence is also taking place against the background of the run-up to Kosovo's parliamentary elections, due in the autumn. Yet, political background is not all of the reason directed against the other side on the ethnic divide, according to the analyst.

Serbs and ethnic Albanians vied for control in the region Kosovo throughout the 20th century. That attack is very likely to have been the work of Kosovar Albanian extremists as analysts believe.