France, Germany Seek New Elections in the North

“Finance and Germany urged Kosovo and Serbia leaders to organise new elections in areas affected by riots as soon as possible”, Macron said.

He said over the coming weeks there will be a clear “decision on the situation in northern Kosovo, and that they agreed during meetings with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and local leaders Kosovo President Vjosa Osmanin and Serbia President Aleksandar Vuciq.

Osmani and Vuciqi have held separate meetings with European leaders, in the margins of the European Political Community summit in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau.

The situation in northern Kosovo was tense since May 26th, when Kosovo Police helped Albanian mayors of majority Serb municipalities enter municipal offices despite resistance by local residents.

The new Albanian mayors of northern Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok and Leposaviq have emerged from the extraordinary 23 April elections, which have been boycotted by the Serb community.

Osmani wrote on Twitter that with leaders of Germany and France discussed recent developments in Kosovo and our <x0-> our joint efforts for peace, security and stability”.

Addressing reporters in Chisinau in the margins of the European Political Committee summit, Vuciq said that lowering tensions in northern Kosovo and setting guarantees for avoiding unilateral actions were key topics during his meetings with Macron and Scholzin.

Vuciqi also stressed the importance of establishing the Association of Serb majority municipalities in Kosovo for him.

He added that a sustainable compromise solution is needed.

“We need to convince people in the Balkans that compromise is not a bad thing. It's not easy, everyone is radicalised and no one wants to hear normal ideas”, Vuciq said.

The meetings were held in the margins of the European Political Community summit in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, where European Union High Representative Josep Borrell is also participating.

“I stressed that it is of priority importance that institutions in Pristina stop violence and return dialogue”, Vuciqi said, after meeting with Borrell.

The Kosovo Presidency Office announced that Osman has also met with Borrell.

The Serbian leader also said the Kosovo delegation has not wanted to meet with the Serbian delegation in Moldova.

“was not approved by other leaders. Serbia always wants talks and it seems to me that it is now more clear who is responsible for the violence in Kosovo”, Vuciq told reporters.

The Kosovo side has not confirmed it has rejected the meeting.

Asked when a bilateral meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti awaits, Vuciq said he does not know.