Lajcak after meeting with Kurti: We can have normalization or confrontation

The European Union Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, stated after his meeting with Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that they had had an important discussion regarding the draft Statute of the Community of Serb Municipalities.

"I had a detailed conversation with the Prime Minister about how the European Union sees the process of drafting the Statute, and I believe we have an agreement on this process. We have the agreement, we have the annex, and we need to have a clear understanding of the next steps," Lajcak said.

He emphasized that the EU had clearly conveyed that any CSM model based on European values, principles, and models was acceptable to them.

"We have been saying this from the beginning, we are clear on that matter," Lajcak said.

Lajcak announced that he will visit Serbia tomorrow on an official visit regarding this issue, and on Monday, he will meet with the chief negotiators Besnik Bislimi and Petar Petkovic in Brussels.

"It is very important that we have an understanding of the steps we will take, and we had a very important discussion. I will also have the same discussions in Belgrade tomorrow and will meet with the two chief negotiators, Bislimi and Petkovic, on Monday in Brussels. Both sides must commit to the normalization of relations," Lajcak said.

When asked whether the situation in the north could escalate after the swearing-in of Albanian mayors in four municipalities there, Lajcak stated that there are two paths ahead: normalization or confrontation and that the latter is not in anyone's interest.

"We can only have normalization or confrontation, and we want to fully focus on normalization, so we want to avoid any escalation; it is not in anyone's interest," Lajcak emphasized.

He also highlighted that he will visit the north in the afternoon to assess the situation on the ground.

"I am going to the north, but I am also interested in talking to the mayor of South Mitrovica and hearing his perspective on the situation," Lajcak said.