Quint countries on N. Kosovo elections, formation of CSM

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In a joint statement on the elections held in North Kosovo in April, France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America called on all actors to refrain from actions that heighten tensions and stressed the need for urgent progress to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities (CSM).

The statement said that four mayoral elections and two municipal assembly elections were held on April 23 in the north of Kosovo, “consistent with Kosovo’s constitutional and legal requirements.” Yet, following the boycott by a significant portion of the Serb community, the results are not a long-term political solution for these municipalities, it added

“We call on all actors to urgently work together among all interested parties, including local communities, towards a solution that provides sustainable participatory representative democracy in these municipalities. There should be no actions or initiatives – including by newly elected mayors and municipal assemblies – that do not serve the people or that could heighten tensions. This includes exercising more than administrative powers and the process of taking office as there is no requirement that mayors be sworn in at municipal offices. All parties should refrain from the use of force or actions that inflame tensions or promote conflict,” reads the statement.

The Quint countries reiterated that they “support the EU-facilitated Dialogue to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia, including the need for urgent progress to establish the Community/Association of Serb-majority Municipalities.”