Specifically, at a meeting on the sidelines of the European Political Community conference in Moldova on June 1.6, Kosovo's leader Vjosa Osmani told the leaders of France, Germany, Serbia and the EU that the breakaway province is ready to hold elections in the north with the participation of Serbs, if the elections are carried out according to the legal process.
US service members of NATO's Kosovo peacekeeping force stand guard outside the government office in Leposavic
According to Ms. Osmani, a solution to reduce tensions is very close, but Serbia must honor all commitments, not just a few parts outlined in the agreement in March, to normalize relations between the two sides.
On the same day, Albin Kurti, the leader under Ms. Osmani, also said that Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in 2008, would hold elections after a phone call with US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer and sanctions pressure from Washington, according to EURACTIV. However, he said the precondition was that the factions backed by Serbia stop the violence.
Why did ethnic tensions flare up in Kosovo?
Previously, the US had issued sanctions, including canceling Kosovo's participation in NATO's military exercises called Defender 2023. 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 leader of Kosovo, the people who voted for him were the people, not Washington.
