The USA Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said today that the USA will recognize the results of the elections in four municipalities in northern Kosovo, even though the Serbs will boycott them, and called on Serbs to return to institutions.

Escobar for Tanjug, was asked if the local elections in the north of Kosovo will be legitimate if the Serbs boycott them. He answered, that the fact that some political parties boycott the elections does not determine the results of the elections and that the USA will recognize the results of the elections in any case.

“I appealed to the Serbs to participate in the elections. We understand a lot of things they find problematic, but of course they have to participate. If they did not participate, it does not mean that we do not support the elections. The Government of Kosovo has a constitutional obligation. There will be elections and we will know the results and we hope that the Serbs will return at some point,” said Escobar.

He said that the USA is asking Serbs to return to police departments because there cannot be a community that has no utilities and no police force.

“We asked that the Serbs return to the institutions so that there is no reason for the ethnic Albanians to be present there. This is a really complex question. It will take a compromise from both sides to find a solution,” said Escobar.