Macron: I hope Belgrade-Pristina dialogue will resume in the coming weeks

French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he hopes the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will resume in the coming weeks, Gazeta Express reports.

In Tirana, Macron was asked about the concerns expressed by the European Union regarding the actions of the Kosovo Police in northern Kosovo, as well as the statement made yesterday by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani that the EU is losing credibility by not lifting the measures against Kosovo – thereby, as she put it, “punishing the side that is upholding constitutional order.” He responded that the EU’s demands are very legitimate and that the current deadlock must be resolved.

“The roadmap is very clear, and we have spent a lot of time in dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina. The EU has a legitimate right to demand concrete political progress, especially regarding the municipal elections, which were unsatisfactory, as well as concerning security. That is well known – there is nothing new in that. I don't think that being demanding means losing credibility. We must break out of this confrontation that is blocking the situation. I hope that in the coming weeks we can restart the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, because every country faces political and social challenges. This is important for the entire region,” the French president emphasized.

He believes the demands are legitimate and points out that indirect dialogue must not be allowed, as that, he says, is not the right way forward.

“The least we can have is the willingness to make progress, because I believe that, for Europe's security and unity, we must follow this path. It is legitimate to make demands in this direction. It is never a good idea to try to divide positions or undermine the process. So, we will continue to act decisively and engage together with our European partners to move things forward in Kosovo,” Macron said.