Speaking from Tirana on Tuesday 17 October, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić to show “responsibility” and to condemn “in the strongest possible terms” the murder of a Kosovar policeman by a group of armed Serbian men on 24 September (see EUROPE 13264/7), in order to stem the tensions that have been rising steadily in recent months between Belgrade and Pristina.
“What we expect from the authorities in Kosovo and Serbia is simple: the reorganisation of elections in municipalities where these were held under inappropriate conditions. Serb participation in these elections and in the institutions, recognition of the Association of Serb Municipalities by the Kosovar authorities. In that order, completely and totally”, he declared.
Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo reached a new level on 26 May, when Albanian mayors were elected in Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo. There has been violence in the region ever since (see EUROPE 13230/19).
The French President also called on the Kosovar Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, to show “responsibility”, after recent meetings between himself and his Serbian counterpart proved fruitless (see EUROPE 13251/4). (Original version in French by Thomas Mangin)