Stoltenberg: We call on both sides to de-escalate

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today appealed to Belgrade and Pristina to reduce tensions in Kosovo and avoid rhetoric and measures that could lead to escalation.

Stoltenberg, before the beginning of the meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic at the NATO headquarters in Brussels, indicated that the main topic would be the challenges in the north of Kosovo.

"NATO has been present in Kosovo with its KFOR mission for many years. Our mission is based on the UN mandate and we impartially take care of a safe and secure environment for all communities," he emphasized.

Stoltenberg reminded that KFOR members were attacked in May, that 39 soldiers were injured, three of them seriously.

"That is unacceptable," the NATO Secretary General said.

He pointed out that NATO had increased the number of soldiers in the KFOR mission by about 500 because of the growing tensions and difficulties it saw in Kosovo.

"We will continue to implement the UN mandate impartially. It is important to reduce tensions. We call on both sides to reduce tensions and avoid rhetoric and measures that could lead to escalation. Engaging in EU-facilitated dialogue is the only way forward," Stoltenberg emphasized.

He underlined that Serbia was a long-standing partner of NATO.