EU calls on Serbia and Kosovo to urgently negotiate to reduce tensions

European Commissioner Josep Borrell stressed the need to "immediately" de-escalate tensions and hold new elections in northern Kosovo with the participation of Kosovo Serbs.

NATO peacekeepers patrol in Zvecan, northern Kosovo, on May 31, 2023. (Photo: AFP/VNA)

On June 22, the European Union (EU) called on the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to urgently conduct negotiations to end a series of violent clashes near the border area in recent times.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said he would hold urgent meetings with Kosovo's chief executive Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksander Vucic in Brussels.

It is not yet clear whether Mr Kurti and Mr Vucic will meet in person or will only hold separate talks with Mr Borrell.

On his Twitter account, Mr. Borrell stressed the need to reduce tensions "immediately" and hold new elections in northern Kosovo with the participation of Kosovo Serbs.

“This is of paramount importance for the region and the EU,” he said.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo increased on June 14 after Belgrade announced it had arrested three Kosovo police officers on Serbian territory.

However, Kosovo authorities said Serbian forces had pulled the three officers out of the territory.

Serbian President Vucic rejected this argument, and declared that Serbia is ready to provide evidence about the incident to an international investigation commission.

Meanwhile, Kosovo announced that it would stop allowing cars with Serbian license plates into the territory.

Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. The territory has a population of about 1.8 million, 90% of whom are ethnic Albanians.

About 120,000 ethnic Serbs living in northern Kosovo do not recognize this government./.

Thuc Anh (VietnamPlus)

Source: https://baodaknong.vn/eu-keu-goi-serbia-va-kosovo-khan-truong-dam-phan-giam-cang-thang-153538.html