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EU enlargement commissioner urges restraint amid Serbia tensions

(ANSA-AFP) - BELGRADE, 19 APR - The EU's enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, called on Saturday all sides in Serbia to "refrain from further tensions" as months-long student-led protests against corruption were held in the country. The student-led protest movement began after a fatal roof collapse at Novi Sad train station on November 1, 2024, which killed 16 people. "I am following closely the situation in Serbia and call upon everyone to refrain from further tensions," Kos wrote on X. "To exit the political impasse and divisions in society, Serbia should step up efforts to fight corruption and advance rule of law reforms," she said. University students supported by citizens as well as by the leadership of some universities have since Tuesday been blocking the state-owned broadcasters Radio Television Serbia (RTS) in Belgrade and Radio Television of Vojvodina (RTV) in Novi Sad. They accused the national broadcasters of ignoring their protests, demanded public-interest reporting, and called for a transparent election of members of media regulatory body. Kos also expressed concerns that "criminal charges are being sought against the Rector of Belgrade University". The rector, Vladan Djokic, who has supported the students, was called in by police last week in Belgrade. (ANSA-AFP).