Novak Djokovic has risked fueling political tensions in his home region with a political message about Kosovo, after peacekeeping troops were injured when ethnic Serbs clashed with police during the week
After his victory against Aleksandr Kovacevic in his first match at the French Open, Djokovicwho is Serbian, wrote in the camera lens: “Kosovo is the heart of Serbia. Stop the violence.”
His comments came as the NATO-led Kosovo Force (KFOR) peacekeeping force claimed 25 of its troops were injured in clashes with ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo.
Kosovo declared independence in 2008, but the two countries have been enemies for decades, with Belgrade refusing to recognize its sovereignty.
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KFOR soldiers guard a municipal building in the town of Zvecan in northern Kosovo
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Hungarian soldiers serving in the NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR guard a municipal building in the town of Zvecan in northern Kosovo
Violence erupted in the north of the country over the weekend after ethnic Albanian mayors were installed in Serbian-held areas.
The clashes were the latest incident as tensions rose over the past week, with Serbia putting the country’s army on high alert and sending more troops to the border with Kosovo.
Meanwhile, the United States and the European Union have stepped up efforts to help resolve the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, fearing further instability in Europe as Russia’s war rages in Ukraine.
The EU has made it clear that Serbia and Kosovo must normalize their relations to advance their intentions to join the bloc.
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Ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo have clashed with police in a dispute over local elections held last month
On Monday, Kosovo police and the NATO-led KFOR were seen protecting municipal buildings in Zvecan, Leposavic, Zubin Potok and Mitrovica, which are four municipalities in the northern region that held early elections last month.
Djokovic, whose father was born in Kosovo, told Serbian reporters: “I am not a politician, nor do I intend to enter into debates.
“As a Serb, what is happening in Kosovo hurts me. Our people have been expelled from the municipalities. This is the least I can do. As a public figure, I feel the obligation to support our people and all of Serbia . . .
And he added: “I feel that there has been a lot of criticism on social media. I don’t know if someone will punish me or something like that, but I would do it again. I am against wars and conflicts of any kind.
“Kosovo is our heart, the fortress, the center of the most important events, the biggest battle took place there, the most monasteries. There are many reasons why I wrote this.”
Read more:
Serbia’s president says NATO-led troops ‘didn’t do their job’ to stop ‘brutal’ violence in Kosovo
Serbia puts security forces on Kosovo border on ‘full combat readiness’
In November, FIFA fined Serbia’s World Cup soccer team after a flag showing Kosovo as part of the country was displayed in their dressing room.
The 36-year-old tennis star made his comments following his 6-3 6-2 7-6 (1) win against Kovacevic.
