Ambassador Smith: Kosovo to withdraw police officers from municipal buildings in the north

US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said that the United States demanded that Kosovo withdrew police units from municipal buildings in the north, Koha reports.

At today's press briefing, Smith welcomed Serbia's decision to reduce the level of readiness of its forces on the administrative line.

"US State Department Envoy Gabriel Escobar visited the region to encourage Prime Minister Kurti and his government to ensure that elected presidents carry out their transition duties in alternative locations. We encouraged them to withdraw the Police Forces around the municipal buildings. We also noted and welcomed Serbia's decision to lower the level of readiness of its military forces. This was important for the beginning of the withdrawal of their troops and weapons from the border with Kosovo," she said.

Smith stated that NATO had been watching the recent events in Kosovo with great interest and that she expressed concern about it.

"The Secretary General of NATO, the allies, requested immediate actions to calm the situation. This is the number one priority. The US, like other members, condemned the violence against NATO troops, especially against the troops of Hungary and Italy, and we consider that those responsible must answer for the violence, through a transparent process," she stated.

Smith stated that dialogue was the only possibility to move forward.

"The main issue and this is the general attitude of the allies, is that dialogue mediated by Brussels is the only possibility to move forward. NATO is focused on the region and we will continue to be, but NATO and the EU will push dialogue as the best way to move forward," she added.