Gero: The situation in the north is worrying; new elections and the establishment of the CSM are needed

French Ambassador to Kosovo Olivier Guerot said that the situation in the north was worrying and that the 27 European Union members in a joint statement had agreed with the proposals of French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who had presented the need to organize new local elections and the necessary progress in relation to with the formation of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, as a path for de-escalation, Telegrafi reports.

"The situation in the north of Kosovo is worrying. This is what 27 EU member states say. We condemn the violence against citizens, journalists, and KFOR soldiers. We call on both sides to avoid any kind of violence and to take measures to calm the situation. This especially refers to the presence of members of the Kosovo Police in the proximity of municipal buildings and the recommendation that the newly elected mayors perform their functions from other buildings. That is why it is necessary to organize new elections and to start work on the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities without delay," Guerot stated.

He pointed out that solving the problem would require the two sides to re-engage in dialogue in order to establish a sustainable solution for the situation in the north of Kosovo, which would guarantee citizens' security and democratic rights and a clear path for the implementation of the Normalization Agreement and its annex.

"This means, among other things, the beginning of work on establishing the Community. The Ohrid Agreement is beneficial for both countries and their citizens. The international community expects Kosovo and Serbia to avoid inflammatory rhetoric, avoid unilateral moves, and take short-term measures to calm the situation in the north, as well as to engage constructively in the dialogue again and implement the Agreement on the Normalization of Relations and its annex," Guerot said.