Havenier: We do not support any form of force use that could lead to tensions in northern Kosovo

We absolutely do not support any use of force that may result in increased tensions or violent conflicts. The elected officials must enter only the buildings where they are welcome. The location within the municipality building in which elected officials perform the oath ceremony does not affect their status as elected officials”, the response of Ambassador Havenier said.

A month ago, Kosovo authorities organised the elections for mayors of four Serb-run municipalities in the north despite the refusal of Serbian political subjects to participate in the process without establishing the Association of Serb-run municipalities.

Implementation of the election outcome on the ground, meanwhile, sparked the European Union's concern about the possibility of escalation of the security situation in northern Kosovo.

Ambassador Havenier said the elections held on April 23rd were in accordance with Kosovo's laws and constitution, but...

“From a political and non-political perspective, however, given the low turnout, we would expect the newly elected mayors and municipal municipalities to take on a technical and non-political role, given the unusual conditions in which they were elected”, Ambassador Hüvenier said calling for all parties to act with responsibility and restraint and to reduce possible points of tension.

Authorities in Kosovo said there is no reason to have tensions during the oath of new mayors, urging citizens living in these municipalities not to fall prey, as propaganda said.

Ambassador Havenier said that given the circumstances, he expects the mayors and members of municipal congregations to focus their efforts on technical responsibilities and in service to the needs of all electorates.

We expect these officials to refrain from any rhetoric, action or initiative that does not reflect the needs of their communities, or which may be interpreted as a contribution to the rise of” tensions, he said.

The question of the situation in municipalities in northern Kosovo was part of a separate telephone conversation Wednesday evening between State Department adviser Derek Chollet with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic.

The office of Kosovo prime minister said Mr. Chollet has been discussed in the process of implementing the agreement reached in Ohrid between Kosovo and Serbia, and the situation in Kosovo's north on the eve of the oath of elected mayors.

The office of the president of Serbia, meanwhile, quoted Mr. Chollet as saying that “needs to avoid provocations and conflicts, as well as it is important to continue working on normalisation, giving support to Brussels' ” dialogue.

The Kosovo and Serbia negotiating teams met early in the week in Brussels in an effort to implement the agreement on normalising relations between the two countries that were reached in Ohrid in March, but without progress.

Both sides hold different positions on the way they implement the agreement. While Kosovo is demanding that not implementing all provisions of the agreement with the establishment of the Association of Serb majority municipalities, for official Belgrade that remained the key condition to continue on in meeting the agreement and returning Serbs to Kosovo institutions.