European Union (EU) and United States Representatives Try to find a solution to avoid new tensions between Kosovo and SerbiaA week before the end of the moratorium on the implementation of Kosovo administrative measures, which the Serbs reject as a provocation.
“We want both sides to commit to non-violence”“, declared in Belgrade this Friday, according to Gabriel Escobar, the US ambassador to the Western Balkans, as reported in Serbian by Radio Free Europe (RFE).
Escobar and the European Union’s mediator, Miroslav Lajcak, met this week. A series of meetings with Kosovo and Serbian officials To overcome the current tension.
Lajcak stated on Twitter that “contacts will continue” and he hopes. “to be on the right track”.
Normalization talks between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008 but Belgrade does not recognize, have been under EU auspices since 2011, with little progress and frequent tensions.
Pristina explained On September 1, it will implement its decision to ban Serbian identity cards and license plates on its territory.After postponing it for a month due to international pressure as a result of strong tensions at the end of July.
The decision then led to the closure of border crossings and roads in northern Kosovo, mostly populated by Kosovo Serbs, and increased friction on the ground.
Tasked with monitoring security in Kosovo after the 1998/99 war, NATO’s KFOR mission increased its presence in the north of the country to prevent a possible escalation.
A mid-month meeting in Brussels between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti made no progress, although Lajcak and Escobar continued their contacts.
According to Pristina measures, those who enter Kosovo with Serbian-issued ID cards will be issued a temporary Kosovo document valid for 90 days.
The measure affects most Kosovo Serbs Those from Kosovo who do not have documents and say the measure will make their lives more difficult.
In addition, car license plates issued by Serbia for Serb-dominated Kosovo cities will have to be replaced with official Kosovo ones.
sees it as Pristina “reciprocity measures”According to Serbia, they are violating previous agreements, as Belgrade does the same.
Escobar announced today that he sees “a major concern and a major issue of trust for Serbs in Kosovo” between the parties, but hopes to reach an agreement on the measures.
“I hope that on September 1, people in the north of Kosovo will not be burdened by their daily lives and live in peace without the need for additional administrative procedures to reach their homes. I believe we will succeed“The US envoy said, according to the RFE.