NATO wants better relations with Serbia, condemns tensions in Kosovo

“Strengthening NATO-Serbia relations would be of benefit to the Alliance, to Serbia, and to the whole region. We look to Serbia to engage with NATO and its neighbours in a constructive manner, including in its public communications on the mutual benefits of NATO-Serbia cooperation,” the Vilnius Summit communique said.

The NATO Summit lent support to the European Union – facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and urged both sides to “engage in good faith towards reaching a lasting political solution”. “We call on both sides to immediately de-escalate, return to dialogue, and engage constructively in implementing the agreement on the path to normalisation between Belgrade and Pristina reached recently in Brussels and Ohrid,” the communique said.

It said that the Alliance remains committed to NATO’s continued engagement in Kosovo, including through KFOR which will continue to provide a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement in Kosovo in line with UNSC Resolution 1244. “The recent escalatory actions are unacceptable and we condemn the violence in northern Kosovo as well as the unprovoked attacks that caused serious injuries to NATO soldiers. We have increased KFOR’s troop presence to respond to the recurrent tensions. Any changes to our force posture in KFOR will remain conditions-based and not calendar driven,” it added.

The Summit communique said that NATO remains strongly committed to the security and stability of the Western Balkans by supporting reforms that advance the respective NATO and EU aspirations of the countries in the region which, according to the Alliance leaders, requires continued attention and commitment to counter challenges.