EU and US propose new elections in northern Kosovo and resumption of dialogue

6 Qershor 2023, 06:42Kosovo & Region TEMA

After more than two hours of talks with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, EU envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks, Miroslav Lajcak and US envoy for Western Balkans, Miroslav Lajcak appeared to be optimistic about the normalization of the situation in the north of Kosovo.

Mr. Lajcak said three proposals were made during the meeting: "The first one is to ease tensions on the ground, the second one, to hold elections in the north as soon as possible and to resume dialogue for the normalization of relations".

Meanwhile, the US envoy said he had never seen so much unity within the Trans-Atlantic community.

"The US, the EU, NATO and every other partner of Kosovo has made the same requests. I hope we'll be heeded," Mr. Escobar said.

Violence flared after Kosovo authorities installed ethnic Albanian mayors in offices in northern municipalities after being elected on a turnout of just 3.5% after Serbs who form a majority in the region boycotted local polls.

The clashes injured 30 members of the NATO peacekeeping force known as KFOR as well as 52 Serb protesters.

Kosovo won internationally recognised independence in 2008 but Serbia rejected it and Serbs in the country's north seek autonomy for their region under a 2013 deal that has not been implemented.

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