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Kosovo Accuses Serbia After Explosion Disrupts Key Water and Power Supplies
PRISTINA: Kosovo has heightened security measures and begun emergency repairs after an explosion on Friday damaged a crucial water canal that supplies its two main power plants. The government has labeled the incident a “terrorist act” and accused neighboring Serbia of involvement, further escalating tensions between the two Balkan nations.
The explosion occurred around 7 p.m. near Zubin Potok in northern Kosovo, a region where the Serb minority, aligned with Belgrade, resists recognizing Kosovo’s independence. While the exact cause of the blast remains unclear, the disruption has threatened water supplies and power generation in the area.
Emergency Measures Enacted
Kosovo’s Security Council convened early Saturday for emergency discussions, activating armed forces to safeguard critical infrastructure and prevent further attacks. Security has been tightened at strategic sites, including bridges, transformer stations, antennas, and canals, following recent grenade attacks targeting a police station and municipal building in the Serb-dominated north.
“The Security Council has approved additional measures to strengthen security around critical facilities and services,” it said in a statement.
Workers at the site of the blast have installed temporary tubes to bypass the damaged section of the canal. While power supplies have remained mostly stable, some areas have experienced disruptions in drinking water, officials said.
Accusations and Denials
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti accused “criminal elements in Serbia” of orchestrating the attack, which he claimed was carried out by an organized group intent on destabilizing essential services. Arben Gjukaj, former CEO of Kosovo’s power utility KEK, said the attackers targeted a location crucial to both water and electricity supplies, warning that the situation was “very critical.”
Serbia’s foreign minister, Marko Djuric, dismissed the allegations as “baseless” in a statement on social media platform X. He suggested, without evidence, that Kosovo’s government could have been involved in the incident.
Tensions Running High
Relations between Kosovo and Serbia have remained strained since Kosovo declared independence in 2008, following a guerrilla war against Serbian rule. Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood, and tensions are especially volatile in the north, where the explosion occurred.
Kosovo Energy Minister Artane Rizvanolli announced that the government was coordinating with Albania’s power company to secure additional electricity, while water trucks were being deployed to affected areas.
As workers raced to repair the damage, Kosovo vowed to protect its infrastructure from further attacks. “We are taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety of our citizens and critical services,” the government said.
The incident underscores the fragile relationship between Kosovo and Serbia and the risks of escalating violence in the region.
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Russia Demands SWIFT Reconnection as Condition to Revive Black Sea Initiative
Russia has set forth a key demand for the restoration of the Black Sea Initiative—reconnecting its Agricultural Bank, Rosselkhozbank, to the SWIFT financial system. This request, which falls under the jurisdiction of the European Union (EU), comes amid ongoing negotiations between global powers on the war in Ukraine.
Partial Ceasefire and Black Sea Security Agreement
Following recent talks in Saudi Arabia, the United States announced that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a partial ceasefire specifically covering energy facilities. While this fell short of the broader ceasefire pushed by former President Donald Trump, the parties also agreed on measures to ensure the safe navigation of commercial vessels in the Black Sea and to prevent their use for military purposes.
However, the Kremlin quickly detailed additional conditions, demanding the lifting of sanctions on food exports, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, and cargo insurance. Most notably, Russia is insisting that Rosselkhozbank and other financial institutions involved in agricultural trade be reinstated on SWIFT, a global messaging system that facilitates secure financial transactions.
EU’s Role and Sanctions History
SWIFT, headquartered in Belgium, falls under EU regulations. In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the EU removed several Russian banks from SWIFT in 2022, including Sberbank, Credit Bank of Moscow, and Rosselkhozbank. The exclusion was a significant blow to Russia’s financial system, as it restricted the country’s ability to conduct international transactions.
Rosselkhozbank, a state-owned institution, plays a critical role in facilitating payments for Russia’s agricultural exports, a major revenue source through the global sale of wheat, barley, and corn. While the EU has not directly sanctioned Russian agricultural exports, the banking restrictions have complicated payments for these transactions, leading to the collapse of the initial Black Sea Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations.
Diplomatic Tensions and Uncertain Outcomes
The demand to reinstate Rosselkhozbank puts the EU in a difficult position. Granting this request could signal a willingness to make concessions, potentially encouraging Russia to seek further sanctions relief. However, refusing it could provoke tensions with the Trump administration, which is eager to secure a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has consistently opposed easing sanctions, arguing that they must remain in place until Russia ends its military aggression. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed this stance, stating that sanctions would only be lifted after Russia takes concrete steps toward peace.
As EU sanctions require unanimous renewal every six months, any member state could disrupt the process. Hungary, which has previously expressed opposition to sanctions, could leverage this situation to push for changes when restrictions are up for review on July 31.
Future of SWIFT and Global Financial Pressures
While the EU holds the power to reinstate Rosselkhozbank’s SWIFT access, the U.S. could signal leniency by ensuring that those engaging with the bank avoid legal repercussions. Analysts suggest that Russia’s demand may be a strategic move to test both Washington and Brussels, pressuring the EU to reconsider its stance on financial restrictions.
For now, the EU remains firm in its approach. France has indicated that sanctions should remain unless Russia agrees to a full ceasefire, reparations, and security guarantees for Ukraine. However, with negotiations ongoing and international pressure mounting, the debate over SWIFT and broader sanctions relief is unlikely to fade anytime soon.
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