The President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani told the US and EU envoys Gabriel Escobar and Miroslav Lajčák, that only punishing criminal groups can lead to “stable and long-term stability”.
“Therefore, we expect law enforcement institutions to do their job, in accordance with the law, so that the criminal groups responsible for violence face justice,” Osmani said, according to a statement from the Office of the President.
Osmani met with the two representatives of the US and EU on June 6th, on the second day of their visit to Pristina.
They are visiting Pristina and Belgrade in an attempt to find a solution to calm the situation in the three municipalities in northern Kosovo: Zvečan, Leposavić, and Zubin Potok.
In these municipalities, local Serbs have been regularly protesting since May 26th, opposing the entry of Albanian mayors into municipal buildings – who won the elections boycotted by the Serb List, the largest Serbian party in Kosovo.
A day earlier, they asked Kurti to calm the situation in the north, hold new elections, and return to the EU-mediated dialogue.
Osmani mentioned the possibility of organizing new elections during her meeting.
“New elections in the municipalities in the north of the country can be organized in accordance with the current constitutional and legal framework, and in this context, democratic participation of the citizens living in these four municipalities must be ensured,” Osmani said.
She also emphasized that Kosovo is committed to working in collaboration with its international allies.
Escobar and Lajčák are expected to travel to Belgrade, and according to reports, they will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at 18:30.
