Von Cramon called on the Kosovo authorities to withdraw Special Forces from the north

The rapporteur for Kosovo in the European Parliament, Viola von Cramon, called on the Kosovo authorities to withdraw Special Police units from the north and sit down at the negotiating table, Koha reports.

Von Cramon said that the only way to resolve the situation was a constructive approach to dialogue and assessed that the Government of Kosovo was taking a lot of risk with "maneuvers in the north".

"Is this the form of 'good' governance that we want? Instead, we should have more will to build trust. Dialogue within Kosovo is the only way out of this situation," Von Cramon said.

She called on the Kosovo authorities to consider taking confidence-building measures.

"For example, the withdrawal of Special Police Forces from the north and to sit down at the negotiating table. The involved parties should constructively engage in dialogue to resolve open issues," Von Cramon said at a press conference in Pristina.

Asked about her behavior towards the Kosovo police in the north, where on Sunday she asked them "What the hell are you doing", she said that she "only asked if they thought it was really necessary for them to stay there" and added that in Germany in case of protests, she would ask the same question.

Von Cramon said that she had met with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on Sunday and had had a good and fruitful meeting. She said that it was up to the Government of Kosovo to make the necessary decisions.

"I just expressed my concern. Whether the new local government has legitimacy, I have no doubts about that. But I just expressed my concern," Von Cramon said.

Von Cramon congratulated citizens on visa liberalization, as well as the Government for the work it had done in the fight against organized crime and corruption.

"No matter what happens here (in Kosovo), we will join the Council of Europe. In everything that happens, Kosovo has our support, but you have to do these things wisely," she said.