An ethnic Albanian mayor in southern Serbia said on Wednesday that the Presevo valley in southern Serbia should either be annexed to Kosovo or get the same status as the Serbs in the north.

Bujanovac Mayor Shaip Kamberi said that Pristina would have huge support if it chose to adjust the borders to include that part of southern Serbia which has a large Albanian population. “If Kosovo chooses that path it has great support to annex the Presevo valley and if not we should get reciprocity with the north,” he told the Kosovo state TV (RTK).

Kamberi said good inter-state relations are impossible if Kosovo does not fully guarantee the rights of the Serbs or while Serbia continues to violate the rights of the Presevo Valley Albanians.

“Albanians are leaving the valley in droves for a number of reasons and this situation can’t remain in place for long. A solution needs to be found within the Brussels dialogue (between Belgrade and Pristina). This is our last chance. Kosovo will have to try one thing or the other,” Kamberi said.