The commander of the NATO peacekeeping mission in Kosovo, KFOR, Ozkan Ulutash, said that the continuation of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia remains essential, but said that it requires courage and sincere commitment from both sides.

“This dialogue is not just a political necessity, but also a moral imperative for the sake of future generations”, said Ulutash.

During a speech in Brussels, at the headquarters of NATO, at the end of his mandate at the head of KFOR, Ulutash said that the dialogue process continues to face obstacles.

“Unfortunately, there are still many challenges. There are still tensions and mistrust between communities that are hindering progress. The political dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia continues to face obstacles. In this regard, NATO and KFOR fully support the dialogue mediated by the European Union as a framework for a long-term solution to the outstanding issues. I remain optimistic that with patience, commitment and a constructive approach from both sides, these obstacles can be overcome”, he said.

Ulutash said that during the leadership of KFOR, he supervised coordination in a number of fields with the EU, OSCE, UN, Kosovo institutions and with the commander of the Armed Forces of Serbia.

“This cooperation remains critical for the benefit of security throughout Kosovo and for the stability of the region,” he said.