Kosovo Serbs Threaten Protests Over Import Tariffs

Srpska Lista warned on Friday that it will take to the streets if the Kosovo government does not withdraw its decision to impose a ten per cent customs tariff on products from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"If Pristina's unlawful measures are not withdrawn, Srpska Lista will invite citizens to peaceful protests," the party said in a statement.

"Srpska Lista has been forced to decide on this course of political action in order to protect the vital interests of citizens of Serb ethnicity, who already suffer great harm due to Pristina's unlawful actions," it added.

The Pristina government imposed the tariffs on Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Tuesday this week, blaming what it called Belgrade's hostile attitude to Kosovo and accusing Bosnia and Herzegovina of putting up barriers to imports from Kosovo.

The EU has called on Pristina to revoke the tariffs, with a spokesperson saying that they are "a clear violation of Kosovo's obligations" under the Central European Free Trade Agreement, CEFTA.

Srpska Lista said that Serbs in Kosovo do not want to be hostages to "irresponsible Albanian representatives and their demagogic and panicked struggle for their own political survival", and vowed to support attempts in Kosovo's parliament to oust the government.

The party has boycotted Kosovo's parliament and suspended its involvement in government several times over disagreements with government, such the arrest and subsequent deportation of Marko Djuric, the head of the Serbian government's office for Kosovo, in March. 

However, its MPs have always returned to the legislature and have not quit their government positions, although they have continued to boycott government meetings.

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