USA: Kosovo has legal obligation to form the CSM; local Serbs’ withdrawal from institutions not a solution

US Embassy in Pristina announced that the United States joined the European Union in urging Kosovo authorities to honor their obligations without delay, including the establishment of the Community of Serb Municipalities (CSM), as reported by Albanian newspaper Reporteri on Monday.

"This implies an immediate extension of the implementation deadline for the new vehicle license plate regime and a suspension of any punitive action against the KM (Kosovo and Metohija) license plate holders until the issue is resolved by the parties in the dialogue. It also implies an immediate initiation of negotiations that would lead to establishing the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities. The Kosovo Assembly ratified the Brussels Agreement, and Kosovo’s Constitutional Court decided to establish the Community, which makes its establishment a legally-binding obligation for Kosovo. Kosovo's continued failure to implement this obligation violates the principle of the rule of law and harms Kosovo's reputation and credibility", the US Embassy statement said.

As further noted, the United States agreed with the European Union that recent developments in Kosovo and Serbia relations were of great concern and that they threatened the important progress achieved in the EU-mediated dialogue.

The Kosovan Serbs’ withdrawal from Kosovan institutions, as the statement underlined, was not a solution to the current disputes and had the potential to further escalate the tensions on the ground.

"All parties involved must take steps to reduce tensions and ensure peace and stability on the ground. Actions and rhetoric that increase the possibility of violence place innocent lives and those of international peacekeepers on the ground at unnecessary risk. Therefore, the United States joins the EU in calling on the representatives of Serbia and Kosovo Serbs to honor their dialogue obligations and return to Kosovan institutions to fulfill their duties, including the Police, Judiciary, and local administrations", the US Embassy said in the statement.

The US Embassy in Pristina also remarked that it was the responsibility of both sides to guarantee peace and stability on the ground.

"Burning cars, intimidating rhetoric, and similar actions are unacceptable and will prompt an appropriate response by the international community. We urge the parties to choose the path of dialogue and refrain from any actions that would lead to violence and confrontation", the Embassy added.

The United States repeated its support to the EU's efforts in facilitating the negotiations, adding that both Kosovo and Serbia had to show their readiness to constructively seek solutions and honor their obligations made in the EU-mediated dialogue.