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The US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that the situation in the north of Kosovo should be escalated immediately without waiting for the new elections in July.
During a press conference in Belgrade, Escobar said that: " Mayors should not use the municipal buildings, the Kosovo Police should withdraw from the area around these buildings and the protesters should leave." We hope that there will be new elections and we want the Serbs to participate in them without preconditions. "
Escobar said that Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, assured him that he would use his influence to convince Serbs to participate in the eventual elections.
" The biggest challenge for Serbia is to convince the Serbs to return to the institutions of Kosovo. Now this is where I think we line up with Serebia. We need to make sure that those who participate in the elections and the Serbs who return to the institutions are welcomed, " said the senior American official.
Asked if there is any answer from the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, regarding the European proposal for the extension of the situation in the north, Escobar said that the discussions between the Government of Kosovo and the EU's special representative for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajçak , will continue even after the latter's departure from Belgrade today.
" I don't know if there was any concrete answer from the Government of Kosovo. I hope that the Government of Kosovo understands that what we are trying to achieve is a sustainable and mutually beneficial result for both countries ", said Escobar.
The American envoy emphasized that the partnership of the USA, the EU and the United Kingdom with Kosovo "is open". But, if the Government of Kosovo, he added, takes unilateral steps and leaves the partnership with the transatlantic community, "this itself is a consequence".
Escobar said that Kosovo and Serbia should return to dialogue for the normalization of relations, because turning your back on him means "turning your back on Europe".
"This, in itself, is a very serious consequence," he said. Escobar reiterated that the formation of the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority is a "legal requirement" for the Government of Kosovo.
" At some point, if Kosovo wants to move forward with its integration, it must form the Association. The question is whether this will happen with this government or with the next government "- said Escobar.
According to the American official, Kosovo and Serbia should focus on the implementation plan of the Ohrid Agreement for the normalization of relations and move forward with the Association.
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