European allies increased pressure on Serbia and Kosovo to de-escalate tensions, demanding they hold new local elections in the troubled north that has seen the worst violence in a decade.
(Bloomberg) — European allies increased pressure on Serbia and Kosovo to de-escalate tensions, demanding they hold new local elections in the troubled north that has seen the worst violence in a decade.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asked the president of Kosovo to hold the contested vote again during a meeting on Thursday in Moldova.
Macron said they also asked Serbia’s president to make sure that ethnic Serbs take part in the re-run. These proposals — the first concrete requests from allies aimed at ending the crisis — are to be discussed with both sides next week, Macron told reporters.
“What we asked both parties is very simple: The organization as soon as possible of new elections in these four municipalities,” Macron said. “Commitment from Kosovo. Clear participation by the Serbian side in these elections.”
Read More: Violence in Kosovo Exposes Perilous Limbo in Europe’s Powder Keg
Dozens of NATO peacekeepers and Serb protesters were injured in the past five days in unrest sparked by Kosovo’s resolve to put newly appointed mayors into their offices in the north of the country of 1.8 million. Local Serbs boycotted that vote, acting on guidance from the government in Belgrade.
Meeting the European demands would require major concessions from both sides.
For Serbia, it would mean actively encouraging Serbs in Kosovo to take part, which didn’t happen last time around, when only about 3% of voters took part.
In the case of Kosovo, it would be a major change of stance of Prime Minister Albin Kurti who has so far shown no willingness to repeat the ballot, saying the four mayors were appointed in a legitimate manner.
Scholz didn’t sound very optimistic on resolving the current tensions.
“This is a very serious issue and we have therefore also addressed the issue with all seriousness,” he said after the meeting. “We will see what can be achieved.”
Meeting these demands would require “courage from all sides” given how unpopular it would be in both countries, he said.
–With assistance from Andra Timu and Irina Vilcu.
(Updates with comments from Scholz from sixth paragraph)
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