Lajcak: Three demands remain in force - de-escalation, new elections, and implementation of the Ohrid Agreement

The EU Special Envoy for Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, Miroslav Lajcak, announced, summarizing the previous week, that during the meetings in Brussels, he had presented clear expectations of the EU to the representatives of Belgrade and Pristina in three steps - de-escalation, new elections, and implementation of the Ohrid agreement.

Lajcak points out that the situation in the north of Kosovo is still very tense.

"On behalf of the EU, we presented our clear expectations to both sides, focused on three elements: de-escalation, new elections in the north, and a return to the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement. In the coming days, we will remain in close touch with both parties, while also closely monitoring the developments on the ground," Lajcak said.

Lajcak adds that during the week in the US, he met with US Under Secretary Victoria Nuland and State Department adviser Derek Chollet.

"We shared a common assessment of the situation in the north of Kosovo. We emphasized the importance of immediate de-escalation and a return to the EU-facilitated Dialogue,” Lajcak wrote.

Also, Lajcak points out that he met with the Special US Envoy, Gabriel Escobar, with whom he discussed the situation in the region.

Lajcak added that he had had meaningful discussions with several US officials, including Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer, Senior Director for Europe Amanda Sloat, Senators Chris Van Hollen and Chris Murphy, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander, and UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo.

"We had discussions regarding the security situation, the necessary steps for de-escalation, and the way forward in both the dialogue and the Western Balkans in general," Lajcak said.