Osman meets with US envoy Gabriel Escobar

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has hosted US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, simultaneously US envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, at the meeting.

Escobarin will also host the head of the Kosovo government, Albin Kurti. Kurti-Escobar meeting takes place at the government building at 16:30.

His visit comes at a time when the situation in northern Kosovo ʹ the Serb-dominated area is tense.

Some local Serbs there, since December 10th, set up barricades and blocked roads leading to border points with Serbia, Jarinje and Brnjak.

These actions were taken after Kosovo Police arrested former members of this institution, Dejan Pantic, under suspicion of involvement in attacks against Central Election Commission officials in northern Kosovo and police officials.

The attacks occurred while the CEC was making preparations for local elections in northern municipalities: Leposaviq, Zvecan, Northern Mitrovica and Zubin Potok.

The elections were announced after the mayors and other Serbian representatives left their jobs in early November, rejecting a Kosovo Government decision not to allow the flow of cars with license plates issued by Serbia.

Serbian representatives, backed by official Belgrade, also rejected the elections, which were originally scheduled for December 18th.

Due to the tense situation, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani postponed them for April next year.