5 minutes agoGermany welcomes lowering tensions in the north: Now, the priority is dialogue
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Germany welcomed today the reduction of tensions between Serbia and Kosovo, but declined to comment about Kosovo's bid for more NATO peacekeepers in the region. “This is a good sign, that both sides have approached each other and that the Serb minority in northern Kosovo has removed the barricades”, the deputy said. [...]
This is a good sign that both sides have approached each other and that the Serb minority in northern Kosovo has removed the barricades”, said the government's deputy spokeswoman, Christiane Hoffman in Berlin.
It referred to barricades of Serb militants set up in dozens of locations in northern Kosovo, blocking access roads at two border points with Serbia.
For its part, the Kosovo government reopened its largest border checkpoint with Serbia.
“Priority now is for dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo to continue to be supported. The German government is doing this very actively”, Hoffman said.
Germany also reaffirmed its support for the European Union's mediating efforts.
However, neither the government nor the Foreign Ministry have commented on Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti's request to strengthen NATO's presence in Kosovo.
“A significant increase in NATO soldiers and military equipment in our country would improve security and peace in Kosovo and throughout the Western Balkans region”, Kurti told the German newspaper “Die Welt”.
The NATO-led defence force, KFOR, has been tasked with ensuring security throughout Kosovo since 1999. It currently has almost 38,000 members, including about 70 German soldiers.
