Protest sparks outrage

to burn copies of Islma’s holy book, the Quran at a demonstration outside the Turkish Embassy in Oslo on Friday, February 3.

The police are believed to have acted in response to Turkey summoning Ambassador, Erling Skjonsberg earli­ er on Thursday.

Oslo’s Police Commissioner, Martin Strand released a statement saying, “The police emphasise that burning the Quran is a legal political statement in Norway, but this event can’t go ahead due to security concerns”.

POWERFUL western nations have given Serbia an ultimatum over normalising relations with Kosovo after tensions between the Balkan states simmer on. Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic announced on Monday, January 27 that his government had received a proposal from western nations including France, the USA, Germany, Italy and the European Union in a bid to put an end to the tensions.

Vucic said his government was under pressure to accept the demand to normalise relations saying the western leaders told him, “Accept the conditions or you will face the interruption of the process of European integration, the halting and withdrawal of investments and comprehensive economic and political measures that will cause great damage to the Republic of Serbia”.

The Serbian President said that his country’s parliament would need time to discuss the proposal, but emphasised that Serbia needs the EU, else it would become “isolated”.

Discussions between the countries have repeatedly faltered in recent months over fears that key Serbian ally, Russia could interfere in the region, distracting from the war in Ukraine.

In recent weeks Turkey has summoned the Swedish Ambassador to Turkey and denounced protestors in Kurdistan over similar Quran burning protests. Turkey has also reportedly struck a deal with Swedish authorities to tighten laws on terrorism in a bid to reverse the country’s objections to Sweden joining NATO.