The text of the following statement was released by the Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vedant Patel, and the Spokesperson of the EU High Representative, Nabila Massrali.
The European Union and the United States are concerned about the continued tense situation in northern Kosovo.
We call on everyone to exercise maximum restraint, take immediate action to unconditionally de-escalate the situation, and refrain from provocations, threats or intimidation.
We are working with President Vučić and Prime Minister Kurt to find a political solution to ease tensions and agree on a way forward for the stability, safety and well-being of all local communities.
We welcome the assurances from the Kosovo leadership that there are no lists of Kosovo Serbs to be arrested or prosecuted for peaceful protests/barricades. At the same time, the rule of law must be respected and any kind of violence is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.
The United States supports the work of the European Union through the Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX). EULEX will continue to closely monitor all investigations and subsequent proceedings in accordance with its mandate to promote respect for human rights. This includes, in particular, guarantees of a fair trial, as well as the protection and equal treatment of members of Kosovo’s minority communities.
We also expect Kosovo and Serbia to return to promoting an environment conducive to reconciliation, regional stability and cooperation for the benefit of their citizens.
All dialogue commitments must be fulfilled in full without delay.
