It was expected that there would be anger and backlash amongst Serbs. As a result of Kosovo’s declared independence, hundreds of Serb protestors had torched posts belonging to customs and police. The United Nations and Kosovo police force had manned those stations and posts.
As a result, NATO troops had sealed off the northern borders. However BBC said that doing so will anger the Serbs in Kosovo and Serbia’s government. As a result, the northern part of Kosovo which is mostly Serbian will be cut off from Serbia. Many Serbs in Kosovo insist that they still belong to Serbia. Serbia’s government has refused to recognize Kosovo’s independence.
Both United Nations customs officials and Kosovo’s police officers were forced to retreat. NATO peacekeepers were sent to seal off the main road between Kosovo and Serbia. The crossing to Montenegro was sealed off by a combination of troops from France and Estonia.
During that time, Vuk Jeremic, Serbia’s Foreign Minister made a speech that Kosovo would be part of Serbia forever.
“For us, Kosovo is the crucible of our identity, it is the essential link between our past and our future,” Jeremic said to the Organization for Security and Co-operation which is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
Russia and China have expressed concerns about Kosovo’s independence. Russia is concerned that it would send a signal to Georgia’s breakaway stakes. Both the United Nations and European Union are divided on Kosovo. So far, they have not agreed to any actions taken.
Technically, Kosovo is under UN and NATO control.
Serbia has withdrew envoys from the United States and other countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.