Hovenier: Using force to enter municipal buildings in the north is not a good idea

The American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said regarding the oath-taking of the presidents of municipalities elected in the north, which is planned for tomorrow, that the United States of America did not consider it a good idea to enter municipal buildings by force, Koha reports.

Hovenier said that after a meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, stressing that conflicts and actions that led to increased tensions in the north should be avoided.

"The US believes that this should end, that conflicts and actions that lead to an increase in tensions in the North should be avoided. We don't think it's a good idea to use force to gain access to buildings that may not be accessible," he said.

Asked if the US supported the new draft of the Statute of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities proposed by Kurti, Hovenier said that they supported it, adding that they believed that the Government of Kosovo had a responsibility to urgently proceed with the negotiations, and then with the formation of the CSM.

"We said several times that ideas should be put on the table, that we know what the vision is." We want this process to progress. We often said things that Prime Minister Kurti also said. We do not want the Community to be in conflict with the Constitution of Kosovo. We have clearly stated our version. But it is important that Kosovo also puts its ideas on the table," he said.