Lajcak: Unnecessary escalation, it's not NATO to solve, we need political solutions

Kosovo and Serbia accuse each other of inciting tensions in northern Kosovo. What is actually the reason for this escalation?

The reason is deep distrust between the two communities, the Albanian majority and the Serb minority. Second, Serbs withdrew from Kosovo institutions. The elections were held in four municipalities, and turnout was 3.4 percent. So these newly elected mayors have fulfilled the legal criteria, but when we talk about legitimacy or representation, there is certainly a big question. Later last Friday, when the Kosovo government decided to introduce those mayors into municipal buildings in Serb-inhabited areas, Serbs tried to block it. And that's the situation we have until today.

How much effort are you making on the ground with the aim of establishing peace between the two sides?

I have to say that this is an absolutely unnecessary and irrational escalation, because after many months of negotiations, we reached two important agreements in February, the road to normalising relations between Kosovo and Serbia, and then in March in Ohrid. That means we have a path to normalisation, we have a program that clearly deals with all open issues, we've started to implement that document and then this is here, which is completely unnecessary, but unfortunately causes very serious concerns. We cannot have normalisation and escalation at the same time. Therefore, it is necessary to escalate, we must go back to normalisation work for implementation of the document. If we didn't have a document, I would understand that people don't believe something like that will succeed. But we have an agreement, which has never been before.

NATO is placing additional forces in the region. Will it help alleviate the conflict? Because, as we hear from you, this requires a political solution, right? And this, as we hear from the European Union, should come from Kosovo?

Well, obviously this can only be solved politically, and that means through existing dialogue. It's a real platform. NATO played a very important role, above all, in preserving peace on the ground. Even in this heated current situation, KFOR units were separating Kosovo police from Kosovo Serbs. Unfortunately, many were injured in that conflict. So by Strengthening NATO, the guarantees that further escalation will be prevented, but it is clear that NATO cannot solve this with all due respect for NATO. It is not for NATO to solve this, we need a political solution. And obviously both sides should do their part.

Here is another dynamic, which is that Russia and China supported Serbia's stance. What does this mean for Serbia's relations with the European Union?

I see it as statements that have no real significance to the situation on the ground. The situation on the ground is that we have a dialogue led by the European Union, which is strongly supported by all 27 EU member states and is strongly supported by the United States as well. Both sides are part of this dialogue. So, I mean, these are statements that actually have no impact on the field situation. What we really need is a return to the negotiating table.