Why do Kosovo-Serbia tensions persist?

About Kosovo-Serbia tensions:

• Kosovo is a mainly ethnic Albanian populated territory that was formerly a province of Serbia. It declared independence in 2008.
• Serbia has refused to recognize Kosovo’s statehood and still considers it part of Serbia, even though it has no formal control there.
• Kosovo’s independence has been recognized by about 100 countries, including the United States.
• Russia, China and five EU countries, most of them with separatist regions of their own, have sided with Serbia.
• The deadlock has kept tensions simmering and prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region after the bloody wars in the 1990s.
• What’s the latest flare-up about?
  • After Serbs boycotted last month’s local elections held in northern Kosovo, where Serbs represent a majority, newly elected ethnic Albanian mayors moved into their offices with the help of Kosovo’s riot police.
  • Serbs tried to prevent them from taking over the premises, but police fired tear gas to disperse them.
  • Serbs staged a protest in front of the municipality buildings, triggering a tense standoff that resulted in fierce clashes between the Serbs and the Kosovo peacekeepers and local police.
• How deep is the ethnic conflict in Kosovo?
  • The dispute over Kosovo is centuries old. Serbia cherishes the region as the heart of its statehood and religion.
  • Numerous medieval Serb Orthodox Christian monasteries are in Kosovo. Serb nationalists view a 1389 battle against Ottoman Turks there as a symbol of their national struggle.
  • Kosovo’s majority ethnic Albanians view Kosovo as their country and accuse Serbia of occupation and repression. Ethnic Albanian rebels launched a rebellion in 1998 to rid the country of Serbian rule.
  • Serbia’s brutal response prompted a NATO intervention in 1999, which forced Serbia to pull out and cede control to international peacekeepers.
• What is the situation locally?
  • There are constant tensions between the Kosovo government and the Serbs who live mainly in the north of the country and keep close ties with Serbia.
  • Attempts by the central government to impose more control in the Serb-dominated north are usually met with resistance from Serbs.