Op – eds: Serbia and Kosovo spar over Trepca Mining Complex (New Delhi Times – February 25, 2019)

New Delhi Times

Distrust between Serbia and Kosovo remains intact two decades after the Kosovo war. In 2008, Kosovo declared independence from Serbia. Till date, Serbia refuses to recognise the independence of Kosovo despite the fact that most Member States of European Union (EU) have done so. Moreover, the independence of Kosovo has also been recognised by USA and 100 other countries.

Territorial disputes are at the forefront of strained relations between Serbia and Kosovo. European Union has been acting as a mediator in the conflict. In 2011, EU facilitated the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, which can be classified a process-oriented approach rather than an outcome-oriented approach.

The mediation efforts of EU have produced a series of agreements between the two sides but many conflict issues remain unresolved. The ownership structure of Trepca Mining Complex is one of such issues.

The issue of ownership of Trepča Mines has emerged as a bone of contention between the two nations. The Trepča Mining Complex, situated 50 kilometres north of Kosovo’s capital Pristina, contains Europe’s largest lead-zinc and silver ore mine. Most of the ethnic Serb majority lives in the region.

Both countries claim the mine, which spreads out between Kosovo’s Serbian-dominated and ethnic Albanian-dominated areas. While Serbia claims ownership of the Trepca Mining Complex, for Pristina they are inalienable.

For the rest of this op/ed: https://www.newdelhitimes.com/serbia-and-kosovo-spar-over-trepca-mining-complex/