On Wednesday, ethnic Serbs clashed with the police in the republic: the rebels set fire to a checkpoint on the border with Serbia. Conflicts between the ethnic minority and the Kosovo authorities are inevitable, but in the end the Serbs will be broken, experts say.

The worsening situation in northern Kosovo will be discussed at a meeting of the UN Security Council on Thursday. Last evening, ethnic Serbs destroyed and set fire to a checkpoint on the republic’s border with Serbia. The unrest at the border began on Tuesday. Then the Kosovo police tried to close two checkpoints on the border. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci said that the authorities are completely legally trying to establish control over the north of the country.

“Good relations with partners are very important for us,” the prime minister said, “but the constitution of my country and our sovereignty are sacred both for me and for my compatriots. This is more important to me than any partnership and cooperation.”

Several people have already become victims of the conflict around border checkpoints. It is known that one Kosovo policeman was killed, and unknown persons fired at a helicopter of the international contingent in the region. The Kosovo authorities are persistently suppressing the desire of the Serbian minority in the north for autonomy, so conflicts in the republic are inevitable, says political scientist Oleg Alexandrov.

“You probably know that before this time there was an economic blockade: goods coming from Serbia were stopped at this border, stood for several days, then turned back,” said the political scientist. “Basically, everything that happens here , – this is a natural process, and I am afraid that it can result in very serious military clashes. This boil must break through, and I think that if there is some kind of armed operation, then almost any resistance of the Serbs living there will be broken. “They don’t have very many resources, so sooner or later, without some kind of real support, which is hardly possible, they will be doomed.”

According to the political scientist, Serbia, which is very close to joining the European Union, is now unlikely to interfere in the conflict in Kosovo.

Serbian President Boris Tadic yesterday condemned the riots and called those who attacked the checkpoint hooligans.

UN Security Council will deal with Kosovo