PRESS RELEASE : Joint Statement on Kosovo [May 2023]
The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 18 May 2023.
The following is the text of a joint statement by France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
On April 23, four mayoral elections and two municipal assembly elections were held 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.
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.
We 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.
