French Ambassador: Decisions made in Pristina do not lead to de-escalation

Firstly because the people living in northern Kosovo have had enough of crises and tensions, secondly because normalization is necessary and Serbia’s European integration depends on it and, thirdly, for geopolitical reasons, we cannot allow a new crisis hotbed in Europe, Ambassador Cochard told the daily Politika.

He explained that this is why France and its German partners undertook the initiative (the Franco-German plan for Kosovo), which was supported by European Union (EU), and why it fully supports European mediation and the plan for de-escalation that EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak had sent to both sides.

Unfortunately we find that the decisions made in Pristina do not lead to de-escalation and implementation of the Ohrid agreement. That is why we have taken steps, both at bilateral and European level, which has resulted in the suspension of certain European funds and cooperation that had previously been established, said Cochard.

He stressed that it is imperative to immediately start moving towards de-escalation and implementation of the Ohrid agreement.

This implies organizing early local elections with the participation of Serbs, and the immediate launching of talks on the formation of the Community of Serb Majority Municipalities, said Cochard, adding that the sides need to make reasonable choices and refrain from any actions that could fuel tensions.