BELGRADE, Serbia �� Kosovo began a trade war with its neighbor Serbia after failing to win enough votes to become member of the international police agency Interpol, threatening years of efforts to reconcile the Balkan neighbors.
Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, is seeking recognition as a state in the international community, which Serbia opposes. The two countries have been in talks since 2013 on improving relations so they can join the European Union, and have even discussed a land swap as a potential solution to their dispute.
That process hit a wall Wednesday after Serbia lobbied other countries to block Kosovo from being admitted to Interpol. Serb delegates jumped up and embraced each other when the vote went their way, calling it one of their "greatest victories." Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Enver Hoxhaj responded by imposing a 100 percent tax on imports from Serbia and said more punitive measures were coming.
"Serbia is continuing its aggressive campaign against Kosovo in the int'l stage," Hoxhaj posted on Twitter. "It is also undermining the normalization process.""
Serbian authorities won't respond with countermeasures to what they consider a declaration of a trade war. They will instead try to help foreign companies operating in Serbia that also export to Kosovo, President Aleksandar Vucic said Wednesday. He said there would be no new talks until the tariffs are lifted.
"They want to exert pressure on Serbia to win our unconditional capitulation and recognition of their independence. That will not happen," Vucic said in a televised speech. "We understand that you consider Kosovo independent, but we do not."
Tensions remain high between Serbia and Kosovo, which fought a 1999-2000 war that ended with a NATO bombing campaign that forced Serb troops out. Since Kosovo declared independence, Serbia, backed by big international backers Russia and China, has obstructed its neighbor from joining international organizations, including the United Nations.
