US concerned about the situation in the north: Citizens' lives are jeopardising, tensions drop, disagreements not resolved by withdrawal from institutions

The US has called on both sides involved “take steps to reduce tensions and ensure peace and stability on the ground”.

“Actions and rhetoric that increase the possibility of violence endanger innocent lives and those of international peacekeeping forces on the ground”, the US statement says.

The United States agrees with the European Union that recent developments about relations between Kosovo and Serbia are serious concern and put at risk the significant progress achieved in EU-launched dialogue. The withdrawal of Kosovo Serbs from Kosovo institutions is not the solution to current disputes and has the potential to further escalate tensions on the ground”, the US statement issued for Online Reporter.net says further.

Therefore, the United States joins the EU by calling on representatives of Serbia and Kosovo Serbs to respect their dialogue obligations and return to Kosovo institutions to fulfil their duties, including police, judiciary and local administration.

“at the same time, we again join the EU to urge Kosovo authorities to respect their obligations without delay. This means the immediate extension of the vehicle re-registering process and the suspension of any punitive action against KM license holders until the issue of license plates is resolved by the parties under Dialogue”, the US says.

This also means the immediate start of negotiations for establishing the Association of Serb-run municipalities. The Kosovo Assembly has ratified the Brussels Agreement and the Constitutional Court of Kosovo has decided that association must be established, which makes its establishment a legal obligation for Kosovo. Kosovo's continued failure to implement this obligation violates the principle of rule of law and damages Kosovo's reputation and credibility”.