Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic asked his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a telephone conversation to help Serbia stabilize peace in the Balkan region.

“Turkish President Erdogan asked about the current situation in Kosovo and President Vucic informed him about the events that led to the escalation of violence. He also asked the Turkish head of state to use his country’s reputation and influence to maintain peace and stability in the region,” the Serbian president’s press service said.

“President Vucic invited President Erdogan to visit Serbia,” the statement said. The Serbian side says that Vucic congratulated Erdogan on his victory in the presidential elections held in Turkey, “wishing him to lead the country successfully on the path of development and during this mandate”.

“On this occasion, President Vucic emphasized that Turkey is an extremely important partner for Serbia, not only in bilateral relations, but also in the international political arena,” the statement said.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on Monday that it was concerned about the worsening of the situation in northern Kosovo and called on the parties to avoid steps that could lead to further escalation of tensions in the region.