<p>Physical altercations broke out in the Kosovo Parliament and water was thrown on Prime Minister Albin Kurti after a heated three-day debate around an audio recording involving a member of the ruling party and an official from the Serb-majority north.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Kosovo's opposition has long criticised PM Kurti for his handling of tensions in the northern region, which has strained relations with the US and the European Union, Kosovo's longtime Western allies.</p>

<h2><strong>Unrest in the Northern region</strong></h2>

<p>The situation in the north of Kosovo has been particularly volatile since ethnic Albanian mayors assumed office in the region following the April elections. The Serbs boycotted these elections, demanding the implementation of a decade-old agreement granting them greater autonomy.</p>

<h2><strong>Parliament brawl</strong></h2>

<p>A video from inside the parliament captured the moment on Thursday (July 13) when an opposition party member threw water at Prime Minister Kurti and his deputy.</p>

<p>The confrontation quickly escalated as lawmakers from both the opposition and governing coalition rushed toward the podium where the ministers were seated.</p>

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<p>During the brawl, Kurti was pushed away from his MPs and bodyguards as the lawmakers attacked each other. Eventually, the police intervened to restore order.</p>

<p>The Speaker of the Parliament, Glauk Konjufca, condemned the violence and delayed the session for two hours.&nbsp;"What happened at Kosovo parliament is unacceptable and use of violence in punishable," the speaker said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Audio recording sparks debate</strong></h2>

<p>The parliamentary debate was sparked by the release of an audio conversation between the chairwoman of Kurti's party, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, and the former Serb lawmaker, Slavko Simic.</p>

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<p>The audio, recorded in June last year, had&nbsp;Kusari mentioning a phone conversation with a sanctioned Serbian official of Serb ethnicity named Milan Radojcic.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Chaos erupted in Kosovo's parliament after an opposition party lawmaker sprayed water at Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his deputy <a href="https://t.co/Tbblg4htXu">https://t.co/Tbblg4htXu</a> <a href="https://t.co/jQajLBnoe9">pic.twitter.com/jQajLBnoe9</a></p>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1679594044396109824?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2023</a></blockquote>
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<p>Radojcic is sanctioned by the US for his alleged involvement in organised crime and corrupt activities.</p>

<h2><strong>Efforts to lower tensions</strong></h2>

<p>On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kurti announced an agreement with the European Union to reduce the police presence in the northern region and implement other measures to de-escalate tensions.</p>

<p>Notably, the clash in parliament followed clashes between NATO peacekeeping soldiers and Serb protesters on May 29, which resulted in injuries to 93 soldiers and 52 Serbs, some of them&nbsp;wounded.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Russian general says top military brass betrayed soldiers fighting in Ukraine</strong></p>

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<p>While ethnic Albanians constitute 90 per cent&nbsp;of Kosovo's population, Serbs account for about 5 per cent. Despite the majority Albanian population, Kosovo has historical significance for Serbs.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Serb-Albanian issue is rooted in ethnic divisions and cultural differences. It has attracted significant international attention with the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) being engaged in facilitating dialogue and promoting reconciliation between the two sides.</p>

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Physical altercations broke out in the Kosovo Parliament and water was thrown on Prime Minister Albin Kurti after a heated three-day debate around an audio recording involving a member of the ruling party and an official from the Serb-majority north.

Physical altercations broke out in the Kosovo Parliament and water was thrown on Prime Minister Albin Kurti after a heated three-day debate around an audio recording involving a member of the ruling party and an official from the Serb-majority north. Kosovo's opposition has long criticised PM Kurti for his handling of tensions in the northern region, which has strained relations with the US and the European Union, Kosovo's longtime Western allies. Unrest in the Northern region The situation in the north of Kosovo has been particularly volatile since ethnic Albanian mayors assumed office in the region following the April elections. The Serbs boycotted these elections, demanding the implementation of a decade-old agreement granting them greater autonomy. Parliament brawl A video from inside the parliament captured the moment on Thursday (July 13) when an opposition party member threw water at Prime Minister Kurti and his deputy. The confrontation quickly escalated as lawmakers from both the opposition and governing coalition rushed toward the podium where the ministers were seated. Also Read | Ukraine 'will join NATO', Putin has 'lost the war': Biden in Helsinki During the brawl, Kurti was pushed away from his MPs and bodyguards as the lawmakers attacked each other. Eventually, the police intervened to restore order. The Speaker of the Parliament, Glauk Konjufca, condemned the violence and delayed the session for two hours. "What happened at Kosovo parliament is unacceptable and use of violence in punishable," the speaker said. Audio recording sparks debate The parliamentary debate was sparked by the release of an audio conversation between the chairwoman of Kurti's party, Mimoza Kusari-Lila, and the former Serb lawmaker, Slavko Simic. Also Read | Cocaine at White House: Secret Service ends probe without finding suspect The audio, recorded in June last year, had Kusari mentioning a phone conversation with a sanctioned Serbian official of Serb ethnicity named Milan Radojcic. Chaos erupted in Kosovo's parliament after an opposition party lawmaker sprayed water at Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his deputy https://t.co/Tbblg4htXu pic.twitter.com/jQajLBnoe9 — Reuters (@Reuters) July 13, 2023 × Radojcic is sanctioned by the US for his alleged involvement in organised crime and corrupt activities. Efforts to lower tensions On Wednesday, Prime Minister Kurti announced an agreement with the European Union to reduce the police presence in the northern region and implement other measures to de-escalate tensions. Notably, the clash in parliament followed clashes between NATO peacekeeping soldiers and Serb protesters on May 29, which resulted in injuries to 93 soldiers and 52 Serbs, some of them wounded. Watch | Russian general says top military brass betrayed soldiers fighting in Ukraine × While ethnic Albanians constitute 90 per cent of Kosovo's population, Serbs account for about 5 per cent. Despite the majority Albanian population, Kosovo has historical significance for Serbs. The Serb-Albanian issue is rooted in ethnic divisions and cultural differences. It has attracted significant international attention with the United Nations (UN) and European Union (EU) being engaged in facilitating dialogue and promoting reconciliation between the two sides. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

VIDEO: Fistfights erupt, water thrown on Kosovo PM, as heated debate over audio recording turns chaotic

<p>Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, largely credited for ending the Kosovo war more than two decades ago, on Monday told Kosovo's government to stop its actions in the Serb majority north, where tension has flared over the past few months.</p>

<p>Kosovo's northern region, home to 50,000 ethnic Serbs, has recently seen its worst tensions since Pristina declared independence from Serbia in 2008.</p>

<p>Violence erupted in late May after ethnic Albanian mayors took office following a local election in which turnout was just 3.5% after Serbs boycotted the vote.</p>

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<p>Some 30 NATO peacekeeping soldiers defending three town halls in northern Kosovo were injured in clashes with Serb protesters, and 52 protesters were wounded.</p>

<p>"It's easy for the Albanians now in the majority to try to use the moment to make a point. But the real thing we need to do is to stop this foolishness," Clinton said during a ceremony in Tirana where he received a medal from Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama.</p>

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<p>Clinton was the most outspoken proponent of NATO intervention to halt killings of Kosovar civilians by Serbian forces as part of Belgrade’s 1998-99 crackdown on a Kosovo Albanian guerrilla uprising.</p>

<p>The war ended in June 1999 after 78 days of NATO bombardments against Serbia's forces.</p>

<p>The United States and the European Union, Kosovo's main allies, have mainly blamed Prime Minister Albin Kurti for igniting tension in the north by installing four mayors in their offices with police despite objections from local Serbs.</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Japan set to release contaminated Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China</strong></p>

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<p>"What major political issue can possibly be advanced by how those four little towns are run?" Clinton said.</p>

<p>In Belgrade, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said growing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina "cause great concern, as well as the increase in violence".</p>

<p>After meeting Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, he stressed the importance of Belgrade and Pristina taking steps towards de-escalating and normalising relations.</p>

<p>"It is crucial for the wider region and Europe as a whole. While the war in Ukraine is raging, it is more important than ever that we act together," Rutte said.</p>

<p>The EU has already placed sanctions on Kosovo, including halting a large part of its economic aid, and has threatened more measures if Kurti does not back down.</p>

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Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, largely credited for ending the Kosovo war more than two decades ago, on Monday told Kosovo's government to stop its actions in the Serb majority north, where tension has flared over the past few months.

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, largely credited for ending the Kosovo war more than two decades ago, on Monday told Kosovo's government to stop its actions in the Serb majority north, where tension has flared over the past few months. Kosovo's northern region, home to 50,000 ethnic Serbs, has recently seen its worst tensions since Pristina declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Violence erupted in late May after ethnic Albanian mayors took office following a local election in which turnout was just 3.5% after Serbs boycotted the vote. Also Read | Hong Kong police offer HK$1 million bounties for hunt of exiled democracy activists, UK hits back Some 30 NATO peacekeeping soldiers defending three town halls in northern Kosovo were injured in clashes with Serb protesters, and 52 protesters were wounded. "It's easy for the Albanians now in the majority to try to use the moment to make a point. But the real thing we need to do is to stop this foolishness," Clinton said during a ceremony in Tirana where he received a medal from Albania's Prime Minister Edi Rama. Also Read | UK witnesses hottest June since records began nearly 140 years ago: Met Office Clinton was the most outspoken proponent of NATO intervention to halt killings of Kosovar civilians by Serbian forces as part of Belgrade’s 1998-99 crackdown on a Kosovo Albanian guerrilla uprising. The war ended in June 1999 after 78 days of NATO bombardments against Serbia's forces. The United States and the European Union, Kosovo's main allies, have mainly blamed Prime Minister Albin Kurti for igniting tension in the north by installing four mayors in their offices with police despite objections from local Serbs. Watch | Japan set to release contaminated Fukushima water into Pacific, angering China × "What major political issue can possibly be advanced by how those four little towns are run?" Clinton said. In Belgrade, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said growing tensions between Belgrade and Pristina "cause great concern, as well as the increase in violence". After meeting Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, he stressed the importance of Belgrade and Pristina taking steps towards de-escalating and normalising relations. "It is crucial for the wider region and Europe as a whole. While the war in Ukraine is raging, it is more important than ever that we act together," Rutte said. The EU has already placed sanctions on Kosovo, including halting a large part of its economic aid, and has threatened more measures if Kurti does not back down. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Bill Clinton tells Kosovo: Stop 'foolishness' in Serb-majority north

As world leaders debate whether to accept Afghan refugees, Kosovo's president Vjosa Osmani says helping Afghan refugees is her moral obligation. Here's a snippet of Palki Sharma's exclusive conversation with the president - herself a former refugee.

Gravitas: Kosovo President to WION: "Proud to help Afghans"

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