NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg once again called on Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from anything that could further escalate tensions between them.

Stoltenberg urged the two countries to “immediately” return to the dialogue for the normalization of relations, facilitated by the European Union.

He emphasized that dialogue is the only way forward.

According to an announcement on NATO’s official website, Stoltenberg made these comments during a meeting with Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas on Wednesday in Brussel.

The situation in northern Kosovo, an area predominantly populated by Serbs, has been tense since the end of May when Albanian mayors were installed in municipal buildings despite resistance of local residents.

Tensions have escalated into violent clashes between Serbian protesters and NATO’s Kosovo Force (KFOR) troops.

There have also been reports of grenade attacks and other incidents.

Kosovo and Serbia have blamed each other for the situation, but the international community has primarily held Kosovo responsible.

The European Union is demanding that Kosovo holds new local elections in the north and withdraws its special police from the region. On the other hand, Serbia is seeking to ensure the unhindered participation of Serbs in any possible local elections.

Serbs in the north boycotted the elections held on April 23, which resulted in the election of Albanian mayors in the municipalities of North Mitrovica, Zvečan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavić.

Kosovo’s leaders have expressed support for holding elections but within the legal framework of the state.

Stoltenberg also spoke about Kosovo on June 22, stating that the current situation “is proof that in this state, the presence of the Alliance’s peacekeeping mission, KFOR, is important”.

NATO has increased its presence in Kosovo over the past month by deploying several hundred additional troops.