Balkans | Serbian leader Vucic discusses de-escalation with Kosovo with officials of the European Union and the United States

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic discussed with EU and US officials the removal of roadblocks erected by Kosovo Serbs in northern Kosovo on December 10, and a de-escalation of tensions with Kosovo.

In Belgrade, Vucic met with the European Union’s special envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak and the US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, to discuss the recent tensions with Kosovo.

In a statement on his social media account, Vucic stated that they had an “honest and correct” meeting with Lajcak and Escobar.

Lajcak also assessed the meeting on his social media account, “I continued my mission in Belgrade today by meeting with Vucic. We had a frank and honest conversation about a political solution to remove barriers and de-escalate tensions. He (Vucic) understands the seriousness of the situation.” Use phrases.

On the other hand, Escobar stated that they are against Serbia’s deployment of security forces in Kosovo and said: “This will be to militarize the issue. We are for dialogue. The founders should remove barriers peacefully and listen to their concerns.” He said.

Meanwhile, Lajcak and Escobar held de-escalation talks in Kosovo’s capital Pristina yesterday.

Tensions in Kosovo and Serbia

The two countries faced each other again ahead of early general elections scheduled for December 18 in 4 municipalities in northern Kosovo, where the Serb population is packed.

Has led Kosovo to increase the presence of security forces in the Serb densely populated areas in the north of the country in order to ensure security in the region before the elections to the mutual tension between the two countries.

After the events in the north, the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, announced the postponement of early local elections to April 2023, but this decision did not ease the tension in the region.

After the arrest of former Serbian police officer Dejan Pantek, Kosovo Serbs set up barricades in the north of the country, and EULEX claims he was attacked while on night patrol.

The European Union, NATO and the United States call for de-escalation and the removal of roadblocks in northern Kosovo.

Serbia considers Kosovo, which unilaterally declared its independence in 2008, to be its territory.

Serbia and Kosovo, which clash periodically, are trying to find a common way to normalize relations, and eventually the two countries get to know each other, within the scope of the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue process that began in 2011 with the mediation of the European Union.

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