NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg today called on Kosovo to ease tensions with Serbia, just days after violent clashes between Kosovo police and protesters. Reuters reports. Serbs demonstrated against Albanian mayors elected in ethnic Serb areas.
After a discussion with European Union foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell, Stoltenberg argued that Pristina and Belgrade should participate in an EU-led dialogue. “Pristina needs to de-escalate and not try to take unilateral and destabilizing measures,” Stoltenberg said on Twitter.
The population of northern Kosovo is mainly ethnic Serbs, who do not recognize Kosovo’s declaration of independence in 2008 and still see Belgrade as their capital – more than two decades after the end of the Kosovo war in 1999. Most of the Kosovo’s population however consists of Albanians.
Rejection
Kosovo’s Serb residents refused to participate in local elections last April, so Albanian candidates won four districts, against a 3.5 percent voter turnout.
The Serbs are supported by Belgrade in not accepting the new mayors and in not feeling represented by the new politicians. As a result, protesters clashed with the authorities. Three of the four elected mayors were taken to the city hall under police guard.
Source: BNR
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