Kosovo opposition ends parliament boycott, no tear gas used

PRISTINA, Kosovo – Kosovo’s main opposition political party has returned to Parliament after three months and has not interrupted its proceedings.

The Self-Determination Movement party on Thursday ended its parliament boycott though two of its allies continue it.

Since September, the opposition used tear gas canisters to disrupt parliament’s work. Their rallies outside routinely turned into violent clashes between protesters and police to reject a deal between Kosovo and Serbia giving more powers to ethnic Serbs in Kosovo and another one on a border demarcation pact with Montenegro.

The European Union has asked Kosovo to approve the border demarcation with Montenegro before its citizens enjoy the visa-free regime in most of its member countries.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, an act that Serbia still rejects.