Lajcak: Escobar and I hoped for more results, tensions running high

Lajcak noted that he and Escobar visited Pristina and Belgrade with the aim to address the tense situation in the north of Kosovo and explore “the potential for a political solution.”

“In Kosovo, we met with the top leadership including President Osmani, Prime Minister Kurti and first Deputy Prime Minister Bislimi. Our discussion were long,” wrote Lajcak.

“We conveyed our concerns about the situation in the north and emphasized the need for immediate de-escalation. We reiterated what both the EU and the US have asked the Parties to do when calling for a political solution: immediate de-escalation, early elections with the participation of Kosovo Serbs and a return to Dialogue on normalization,” Lajcak stressed.

He said they also spoke with Kosovo Albanian opposition leaders, explaining the consequences of the current crisis and the damage it inflicts upon Kosovo's international reputation.

“We asked them for their support to a political solution to defuse the tensions,” said the EU Special Representative.

“As no solution can be achieved without involving the affected population, Escobar and I met with both representatives of Srpska Lista and of civil society, to hear from them and explain why it is important that Kosovo Serbs participate in new elections,” said EU diplomat stressed.

Sharing his impressions from Belgrade, Lajcak said he and Escobar “had equally long and also not easy discussions with (Serbian) President Vucic.”

“We explained to him how he should contribute to a way out of the current crisis and we addressed the complex situation of the Serbs in Kosovo. We particularly highlighted that while all citizens have the right to peacefully protest, violence is never acceptable and there cannot be any impunity,” Lajcak wrote.

“Escobar and I have hoped for more as a result of our mission, but unfortunately, despite some positive signals, tensions are still running high. So after a short stopover at the Annual Meeting of the European Council for Foreign Relations in Stockholm, where I had the chance to talk to a number of people from Europe and the US, I’m now back in Brussels to debrief the EU and the Member States on my findings and next steps,” said the EU Special Representative.