The French Embassy: Action in the North mars normalisation efforts

France's embassy in Kosovo has said that the government's actions in the country's north to close the Serbian Centres for Social Affairs undermine efforts to normalise relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Also, France requires that Serb parallel structures north be discussed in Brussels with Serbia, and that, as stated in response to the Embassy, EU Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Peter Sorensen is willing to facilitate discussions.

“We consider that the issue of the structures supported by Serbia should be resolved under the EU facilitated dialogue and fully agree with the statements of an EU spokesman quoted below: The closure of existing structures offering basic social services to Kosovo Serbs and other communities, without a mutually agreed alternative agreement, negatively affects daily life and living conditions of these communities and directly undermines normalisation efforts. These issues should be addressed through negotiations between the parties. The EU's Special Representative for Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, Peter Sorensen, is ready to facilitate discussions”.

Also, France Embassy in Kosovo said Mission EULEX is awaiting details to verify the facts concerning the Kosovo Police Action.

“We have taken into account that Kosovo Police have conducted new operations against structures supported by Serbia in northern Kosovo. Our mission, EULEX, is monitoring the situation on the ground in line with its mandate. We are waiting for further details to verify the facts. As previously said, the status of these structures and services they offer is expected to be resolved through EU-mediated dialogue. No health care, educational institution, or other structure that provides basic social services supported by Serbia should be closed”, the French Embassy's response to RTV21 said.