The EU reacts before the meeting: Kurti and Vucinq will be held responsible for any escalation

So said in the 14 August EU statement, sent by spokesman Peter Stano.

“The rise of recent promotional rhetoric on the part of Kosovo and Serbian officials, in particular statements about war and conflict in the Western Balkans represent great concern. Senior politicians on both sides will be held responsible for any escalation that could lead to an increase of tensions and potentially violence in the region”, the statement said.

It says that both sides should immediately end their enmity and promotional statements, as well as act responsibly”.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has stated in an interview for Radio Free Europe, more than in northern Kosovo municipalities on July 31st, there was risk of escalation of the armed conflict situation, “due to Belgrade-injected fears and because of plans made in Rax and in Belgrade”.

Serbia's president, Akexander Vuciq, said there is information on plans that “the duplication of our people” is being prepared in northern Kosovo, referring to the Serb population living in Kosovo.

A day after this statement, Prime Minister Kurti said when officials in Belgrade, including Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq, speak of violence and murder in Kosovo, they speak for themselves, “speaks for their imagination and thought”.

The EU says all open issues between the two countries should be addressed through dialogue.

“The EU expects the two leaders to discuss these challenging topics at the next summit under the dialogue, invited by High Representative Josep Borrell”.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vuciq will meet in Brussels on 18 August.

The European Union recalls that achieving a comprehensive and legally binding agreement for full normalisation of the reports requires a climate that would contribute to the conversion of trust, reconciliation and good reports, “where past agreements are respected and implemented overall, and where actions and statements that are not in line with overall interests and the region's strategic goals have no place”.

The EU says that, along with EULEX in Kosovo, is in close co-ordination with KFOR and international partners, particularly the United States of America.

On August 17th, Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, will hold separate meetings in Brussels with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq.

A day after, the meeting of two leaders under the European Union's mediation will take place on 18 August.

This meeting was called after increasing tensions in northern Kosovo.

On July 31st, local Serbs set up barricades in northern Kosovo to challenge the Kosovo government's two decisions regarding Serb license plates and documents.

The barricades were removed on August 1st, and the Kosovo government pledged it would postpone for a month the implementation of the decision on equipping Serbia's citizens with entry documents, as soon as it enters Kosovo territory.

Political leaders have since exchanged mutual accusations of straining the situation. / REL