Snap elections in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo should be held.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s what the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti, and the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 agreed upon in separate meetings with EU mediators in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Kurti expressed readiness for the announcement of snap local elections in Kosovo, but \u201cin accordance with the country\u2019s legal framework\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that there is a need for snap elections in the four municipalities in the north, with a process that is preceded by rule of law, an open and fair campaign, and free and democratic elections. I cannot say that the situation is secure due to bilateral meetings, and we have a stable peace, but based on the mediator\u2019s optimism, I can say that the days ahead will be better than what we have left behind,\u201d said Kurti.<\/p>\n
He insisted that he was ready to meet with the Serbian President, but the latter refused.<\/p>\n
\u201cI came to meet with the Serbian side to discuss the steps forward, since this is a process involving two parties, it was not possible,\u201d Kurti added, emphasizing that he is willing to engage in negotiations until a solution is found.<\/p>\n
Borrell: Parties must fulfill their obligations<\/strong><\/p>\n The EU\u2019s High Representative, Josep Borrell stated that in the meetings he had Thursday with the Prime Minister of Kosovo and the President of Serbia, they agreed that snap elections should be held in the four northern municipalities of Kosovo.<\/p>\n He said they have \u201cidentified possible ways forward, but both parties must fulfill their obligations\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s meeting did not focus much on what, but on how and when \u2013 how to calm the situation on the ground, how to organize new elections, and how to return to dialogue and fulfill all obligations of the dialogue, especially the latest agreement on the path of normalization,\u201d said Borrell on Thursday.<\/p>\n Borrell added that in the meeting with Kurti, he reiterated the request for elected Albanian mayors in Serbian municipalities to work from alternative premises.<\/p>\n Regarding the arrests of some Serbs in Kosovo after the recent protests in the north, Borrell said that \u201cthere can be no impunity for the perpetrators of violence\u201d.<\/p>\n However, he stressed that \u201cthe arbitrary arrest or unjust mistreatment of prisoners is entirely unacceptable\u201d.<\/p>\n Furthermore, Borrell stated that he had told Vu\u010di\u0107 that the three Kosovo police officers being held in pretrial detention in Serbia \u201cmust be released immediately and unconditionally\u201d.<\/p>\n Three Kosovo border police officers were arrested by Serbian forces on June 14. Serbian authorities claim they were arrested deep within Serbian territory. Meanwhile, Kosovo authorities emphasize that the three Kosovo police officers were abducted within the territory of Kosovo.<\/p>\n Borrell added that he will be in close contact with both parties in the coming days and will report to the EU foreign ministers on Monday on \u201cwhere we stand and where we need to go\u201d.<\/p>\n Vu\u010di\u0107: Everything has gone too far<\/strong><\/p>\n After the meeting with the dialogue mediators, the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vu\u010di\u0107 said that he cannot confirm that \u201cthere is a roadmap\u201d to resolve the crisis in northern Kosovo.<\/p>\n \u201cWe discussed the issue, the substance, which was unavoidable but, what we will see tomorrow on the ground, I don\u2019t know… when we have trucks waiting,\u201d he said, referring to the blockage of Serbian goods trucks at the border with Kosovo.<\/p>\n Regarding the solution to the situation in Kosovo, Vu\u010di\u0107 said he fears that \u201ceverything has gone too far\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will continue to talk on a daily basis because peace and stability are crucial, but I warned that Serbs are in a very difficult position and they do not want to endure Kurti\u2019s terror in the way they have been forced to endure until now,\u201d Vu\u010di\u0107 continued.<\/p>\n In today\u2019s meetings with the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia, we focussed on how to defuse the situation on the ground; how to organise new elections and how to return to the Dialogue and implementation of all Dialogue implementation. <\/p>\n We put on the table concrete proposals. pic.twitter.com\/Zi9ugi7Id8<\/a><\/p>\n — Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) June 22, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n