The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia are in Brussels for a new round of talks mediated by the European Union to normalize relations, amid high tensions and calls from Western diplomats to avoid actions that could trigger a renewal of violence in the region.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučič stayed in Brussels in June but there was no joint meeting after tensions erupted at the end of May when Albanian mayors of northern municipalities who emerged from the April 23 elections were boycotted by Serbs. , were sent to the municipal offices with the support of the police.
Serbian protesters clashed with security forces and 93 members of the NATO-led peacekeeping force were injured.
The European Union seeks to reduce tensions through a plan that foresees the suspension of police operations in the north, the relocation of mayors to alternative offices and the announcement of early elections with the unconditional participation of Kosovo Serbs.
The Government of Kosovo has agreed on steps to reduce tensions, by halving the presence of police units in municipal buildings in the north and taking actions to pave the way for early elections. She expects the European Union to lift the punitive measures against Kosovo which were imposed in June due to the situation in the north.
In August, US and European lawmakers warned that Western diplomacy was not putting enough pressure on Serbian President Vucic, who, while insisting that membership of the European Union is his goal, continues to maintain close ties to Moscow and refuses to join the sanctions against Russia because of its aggression in Ukraine.
Western observers warn that the Kremlin could use Belgrade to reignite conflicts in the Balkans, to draw the world’s attention away from its war in Ukraine.