UN reiterates that Kosovo- Serbia is the only way ahead

Contacted by Radio Free Europe to comment on the demands of Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, for Kosovo, a State Department spokesman said the US “continues to strongly support the EU-led dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, as a way to achieve a peaceful and productive relationship between the two countries”.

During an address late last week, Vuciq urged reintegration of Serbs to Kosovo institutions, including their return to the Kosovo Regional Police Directorate for the north, the return of Serbian judges and prosecutors to their posts and holding local elections in northern Kosovo.

The municipalities in this Serb-run populated area are currently led by Albanians, after local residents boycotted the elections.

Serbian leaders, like other community officials in the north, resigned from Kosovo institutions in November 2022, when tensions were high due to Kosovo authorities' decision to replace Serbian license plates with Kosovo license plates.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti did not comment on Vuciqi's demands, but Kosovo Assembly Chairman Glauk Konjufca, who comes from Kurti's party, said they are unconstitutional.

The U.S. State Department spokesman also called on Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from further escalating rhetoric, packaged actions or legislative acts that clash with the normalisation of their relations or endangering stability and security”.