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.
