American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on Friday that the De-Escalation is creating difficult conditions for the region, and not only for Kosovo and Serbia.

He reiterated that the new Albanian mayors of the municipalities in the north should work in alternative locations, that the Kosovo Police should withdraw from the municipal buildings, that the protesters should leave the streets and that those responsible for the violence of May 29 against members of the NATO missions in Kosovo, KFOR, must be held accountable to the authorities.

Escobar has said that the American ambassadors in Kosovo and Serbia have never mentioned the word sanction, but consequences, writes rel.

“Those who want to be partners with us, must work closely with the USA and the European Union, on the points we are insisting on. One leader cannot control the direction of the entire region. Therefore, those who refuse the partnership will face consequences.”

He said that both sides have a role in reducing tensions.

The international community has addressed three requests to Prime Minister Kurti, regarding the situation in the north:

• De-Escalation of the situation there
• Holding new elections
• The return to the dialogue for the normalization of Kosovo-Serbia relations, mediated by the European Union.

Asked if Escobar will participate in the meeting that will be held in Brussels next week, under the organization of the European chief diplomat, Josep Borell, Escobar said that the meeting is still being worked on.

“Depending on the preparations we will have, we will decide if I will go to Brussels. But, without any doubt, these efforts will have American support”.

Escobar has said that he believes that the Government of Kosovo should lift the ban on Serbian goods at the border.

The EU believes that something like this is not only un-European, but does not even exist on a legal basis. We support this position and believe that it is an unnecessary escalation of an already tense situation”

Regarding the criticism of the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, that KFOR has been silent about the arrest of three Kosovo policemen by the Serbian authorities, Escobar said that the US and KFOR are waiting for the facts.

“We are waiting for the end of the investigations. We think it is inadequate to make preliminary assessments”.

Tensions in the north of Kosovo have been high since May 26, when the new Albanian mayors of the municipalities in the north – inhabited by a majority of Serbs – entered the municipal buildings.

Local Serbs have opposed something like this and have been protesting continuously in front of municipal buildings since May 29.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Security, Josep Borrell, said on Thursday that he will invite the representatives of Kosovo and Serbia next week in Brussels, an urgent meeting for crisis management.