Specifically, at a meeting on the sidelines of the European Political Community conference in Moldova on June 1, Kosovo leader Vjosa Osmani told leaders of France, Germany, Serbia and the EU that the breakaway province was ready to hold new elections in the north with the participation of Serbs, if the election was conducted according to legal procedures.
US servicemen from NATO's Kosovo peacekeeping force stand guard outside government offices in Leposavic
According to Ms. Osmani, a solution to reduce tensions is very close but Serbia must respect all commitments, not just some parts stated in the March agreement, to normalize relations between the two sides.
On the same day, Mr. Albin Kurti, the leader under Ms. Osmani, also said that Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, would hold new elections after a phone call with US Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer and pressure from Washington to impose sanctions, according to EURACTIV. However, he said that the prerequisite was that the factions supported by Serbia must end the violence.
Why are ethnic tensions erupting in Kosovo?
The US has previously imposed sanctions, including suspending Kosovo’s participation in NATO’s Defender 2023 military exercise. Commenting on the deterioration in relations with Washington, Mr. Kurti said he was in daily contact with US Ambassador Jeffery Hovenier and respected him. However, according to the Kosovo leader, it was the people who elected him, not Washington.
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