PRESS RELEASE : Violence in the north of Kosovo – joint statement [May 2023]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 26 May 2023.

This joint statement on violence in the north of Kosovo is by France, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Joint statement by France, Italy, Germany, the UK and the US:

We condemn Kosovo’s decision to force access to municipal buildings in northern Kosovo despite our call for restraint. We call on Kosovo’s authorities to immediately step back and de-escalate, and to closely coordinate with EULEX and KFOR.

We condemn attacks on EULEX in Zvecan.

We are concerned by Serbia’s decision to raise the level of readiness of its Armed Forces at the border with Kosovo and call all parties for maximum restraint, avoiding inflammatory rhetoric.