Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, said he had spoken with European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell about Kosovo.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are escalating over ethnic issues. Photo: Reuters
He said Pristina and Belgrade must engage in an EU-led dialogue. “Pristina must de-escalate and not take unilateral, destabilising steps,” Stoltenberg said in a tweet.
Serbs, who make up the majority of the population in Kosovo's northern region, have not accepted Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence from Serbia and still consider Belgrade their capital more than two decades after the war ended in 1999.
Meanwhile, ethnic Albanians make up more than 90% of Kosovo’s population overall. Serbs refused to participate in local elections last April, and Albanian candidates won all four municipalities, albeit with a turnout of just 3.5%.
Kosovo Serbs said they would not accept new mayors who did not represent them, leading to protests and clashes with Kosovo police.
On Friday, three of the four mayors were escorted by police into their offices for their inauguration. Protesters threw rocks at government buildings, prompting police to respond with tear gas and water cannons to disperse the angry crowds.
The situation remained tense on Sunday with heavily armed police in armoured vehicles still guarding the offices of the newly appointed mayors.
Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)
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