Chief NATO again calls on Kosovo, Serbia for content

Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, again called on Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from anything that could escalate further tensions between them.

Stoltenberg asked the two countries to return “immediately” dialogue for normalising relations, mediated by the European Union.

Dialogue, he said, is the only way forward.

According to an official NATO website report, Stoltenberg made comments at a meeting with Estonia Prime Minister Kaya Kallas in Brussels on Wednesday.

The situation in northern Kosovo ʹ the Serb-populated area has been tense since late May, when Albanian mayors of municipalities there are located in municipal facilities, despite the resistance of local residents.

The missions have also culminated in violent clashes between Serb protesters and NATO mission soldiers KFOR.

There were also reports of hand grenades and other vehicles.

Kosovo and Serbia have blamed each other for the situation created, but the international community has placed responsibility mainly on Kosovo.

The European Union is urging it to hold new local elections in the north, as well as to withdraw special police from that area. From Serbia, on the other hand, seeks to ensure the unconditional participation of Serbs in possible local elections.

Serbs in the north have boycotted the April 23rd elections, out of which Albanian mayors have emerged: Northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq.

Kosovo leaders have voiced favour in holding elections, but, as they have said, within the legal framework of the state.

Stoltenberg spoke of Kosovo even on 22 June, when he said the current “situation is evidence that in this state, the presence of the alliance's peacekeeping mission is important, KFOR”

From last month, NATO increased its presence in Kosovo for several hundred soldiers.