Petkov's Bislem tomorrow in Brussels for lowering tensions and normalisation agreement

Wednesday's meeting follows reconciliation reached 10 July between the European Union and Kosovo for the extension of the situation in Serb-run northern municipalities.

The Kosovo government has already reduced the presence of police forces in municipal buildings by 25 percent and has agreed to support holding new elections in the north.

Last week we have reduced the presence of the Kosovo Police by 25 percent in three municipal buildings in the north. Now we've started opening up early elections. Kosovo is implementing the agreement reached with the EU, in Bratislava, on extending the” situation, Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti wrote on Tuesday in social networks.

Tensions rose late May, when Albanian mayors of Kosovo's northern municipalities took office with police support after the April local elections, which were boycotted by Serbs.

Western diplomacy has since sought to reduce tensions through the suspension of police operations in the north, the transfer of mayors to alternative offices, and early elections with unconditional participation of Kosovo Serbs.

Tomorrow's meeting could mark a new period of developments to reduce tensions that coincided with violent actions and sparked concerns of renewed conflicts in the troubled Kosovo area. / VOA