Lajcak after the meeting with Kurti: He presented his views, I presented mine

The Special EU Envoy for dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, after a two-hour meeting with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that the current situation was not easy.

Asked if he had managed to soften Kurti "a little", Lajcak said, "He presented his views, I presented my ideas and proposals; the meeting was long but very important".

"It is not an easy task, nor an easy situation. I had important meetings with President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti. Long honest discussion. Very important. I have to choose my words; there is an understanding of the need to move forward on the three points put forward by the EU - de-escalation, quick new elections, and a return to the normalization dialogue. It remains to continue the discussions on the concrete steps to be taken. The meeting was long but very important to better understand each other's positions. We agreed to continue," he told reporters.

Asked about the sanctions against Kosovo, Lajcak said that it was not within his jurisdiction to comment on those measures.

"It is clear that the EU is not happy that it is in a position to present measures," Lajcak added.

He added that there were ready sanctions against Serbia if it was found that Belgrade was not acting in accordance with EU requirements.

"The EU has made it clear that there are sanctions ready for Serbia as well, they will be applied if it is understood that Serbia does not act according to the EU's requirements. That is the decision of the member states. I will be in Belgrade tomorrow. My wish is that there are no sanctions against Kosovo and Serbia. My wish is that there are no sanctions and that the two sides come to Brussels and negotiate how to implement the agreements reached in February and March," the EU Envoy said.

Lajcak announced that he would be in Belgrade the following day.