The British Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, said that it is necessary for the Government of Kosovo to take steps to improve the situation in the north.

Cleverly, during a meeting with Kurti in London on June 26, said that among the steps that the Kosovar executive should take are: to ensure that the mayors of the four municipalities in the north of Kosovo can work from alternative locations, to withdraw the special units police from municipal buildings and take steps for new and inclusive elections.

“I made it clear to Prime Minister Kurti that the continuation of tensions puts at risk the achievements in Kosovo, which have been achieved over the years together with the United Kingdom and international partners,” said Cleverly after the meeting with Kurti.

According to the announcement of the British Government, in the meeting the senior British official emphasized that Kosovo and Serbia are responsible for acting now to deescalate the situation and to avoid any further actions or inciting rhetoric.

The British Foreign Secretary also welcomed the release of three Kosovo policemen, who were being held in custody in Serbia, describing this as a positive step forward.

Tensions in the north of Kosovo started on May 26, when the new Albanian mayors – of Zveçan, Leposaviq and Zubin Potok, municipalities inhabited by Serb majority – entered the municipal buildings with the assistance of the police. Since then, Serbs have been protesting.