In protest of the recognition of Kosovo by the United States, at least a thousand angered Serbian protestors attacked the United States embassy in Belgrade, Serbia. Embassies belonging to Britain, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, and Croatia were also attacked. The United Nations Security Council and the European Union (UN) have been split on the issue of Kosovo.
Britain, Turkey, Germany, and Belgium were also countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.
So far, the violence has been condemned by both Serbia’s President and Prime Minister. There was a peaceful protest earlier on the same day that the attack on the United States embassy had taken place.
Serbia and Russia have condemned Kosovo’s independence. NATO forces remained as a security measures. Recently, NATO had to seal off the northern borders of Kosovo.
Rian Harris, the spokeswoman for the US embassy said: “Dependents are being temporarily ordered to depart Belgrade. We do not have confidence that Serbian authorities can provide security for our staff members.”
While non-essential staff will be evacuated, vital staff will remain. Recently, Serbia has withdrawn all envoys from countries that have recognized Kosovo’s independence.
Hashim Thaci, the PM of Kosovo compared the attacks on the embassies to the era of former Yugoslavian leader Slobodan Milosevic who made a violent crackdown on ethnic Albanians.
Thaci said: “What we saw were terrible things. It was a reaction against a democratic world.”
Boris Tadic, Serbia’s President said: “I most sharply condemn the violence, looting and arson. There is no excuse for the violence.”
Serbia’s PM Vojislav Kostunica also condemned the attacks.
Russia’s foreign ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin said: “Those forces that supported Kosovo’s proclamation of independence should have been aware of the consequences of such a step.”
The topic of Kosovo’s independence and the attack on the United States embassy was one of the topics brought up on the Democratic Debates on CNN, last night, on February 21 in Texas.