After more than two hours of discussions with the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, the European Envoy for Kosovo-Serbia negotiations Miroslav Lajčák, and the American Envoy Gabriel Escobar expressed hope for reducing tensions in northern Kosovo.
Lajčák stated that during the meeting, proposals were presented with three elements: “the first one is the de-escalation of the situation on the ground, the second one is early elections in the north as soon as possible, and the return to the dialogue for the normalization of relations.”
Lajčák described the discussions with Prime Minister Albin Kurti regarding these proposals as long, open, and difficult.
The American Envoy stated that he had never seen so much unity within the transatlantic community before.
“The United States, the European Union, NATO, and every friend of Kosovo have made the same requests. I hope we will be heard,” Escobar said.
“I came here as a strong supporter of Kosovo. We want the best for Kosovo. We want Kosovo to fulfill all its aspirations. We are the biggest supporters of your security, independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. All I am asking is to be heard,” emphasized Escobar.
Tensions in northern Kosovo followed the April 23rd local elections, which were boycotted by Serbian parties. Municipal mayors were elected from Albanian party candidates and their installation in municipal offices, escorted by special police units, sparked reactions and groups of Serbs took to the streets in protests that turned violent last Monday, causing injuries to 30 KFOR members and raising concerns about the resurgence of conflict in the region.
Groups of Serbian citizens have been gathering every day since May 26th in front of the municipal buildings to oppose the entry of Albanian mayors.
The United States and the European Union are demanding the temporary relocation of the new mayors to alternative offices in Kosovo. As Lajčák stated on Monday evening, there should be mayors with legitimacy in the north.
Meanwhile, Belgrade is demanding the withdrawal of Serbian armed forces stationed near the Kosovo border and a decrease in readiness, the maintenance of calm among protesters in the north, and ensuring the participation of Kosovo Serbs in new elections.
According to a statement from his office, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti is quoted as saying, “The way forward is an immediate halt to attacks by violent extremists and criminal groups against local and international security forces and journalists.”
Kurti called on Brussels and Washington to call for an end to violence and criminal prosecution and punishment of perpetrators, stating, “Only the rule of law can pave the way for early, free, fair, and honest elections. The pre-election campaign must also be such.”
The statement cites Prime Minister Kurti as also saying, “Order and legality will certainly proportionally reduce the number of police officers in municipal buildings in the three northern municipalities.”
In a mtg w/ 🇺🇲 DAS Escobar & 🇪🇺 SR @MiroslavLajcak, I expressed my unreserved commitment to de-escalation. Essential steps forward are an immediate end to attacks on security forces by violent extremists & criminal groups, and the RoL to ensure free and fair campaign & elections. pic.twitter.com/lZ8EdSZjrK
— Albin Kurti (@albinkurti) June 5, 2023
On Saturday, the European Union warned that failure to make progress in de-escalating the situation would have negative consequences for both parties.
On Monday, the EU stated that after receiving Lajčák’s report on the meetings in Kosovo and Serbia, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell will inform member states to decide on further steps.
Under Western pressure, the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia have agreed that the new elections should be held in the majority Serbian-inhabited northern municipalities but have accused each other of the situation on the ground.
On Monday, the Serb List, the main political entity of Kosovo Serbs, announced that they would participate in the new elections, but only after the withdrawal of special police units from the area and the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities.
Tensions in the north have sparked internal debates in Kosovo. The opposition strongly criticizes the government for actions that are not coordinated with Kosovo’s allies and damage relations with the United States, which suspended the participation of the Kosovo Security Force in the “Defender Europe 2023” exercises and announced other punitive measures.
