The German Foreign Ministry demands that the barricades in the north of Kosova be dismantled as soon as possible and that the Kosova Serbs return to their institutions. After weeks of escalation in northern Kosova, the German Foreign Ministry told “Der Standard” that “the illegal barricades erected by the Kosova Serbs, which also pose a security risk, must be dismantled as soon as possible.”

A spokesperson for the Federal Foreign Ministry also said that “Germany is very concerned about the tensions in the north of Kosova”.

The spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry called on Serbia and Kosova to be constructively involved in the dialogue led by the EU.

“It is important that the Serbs of Kosova return to the institutions of Kosova as soon as possible. This is in the interest of the people. At the same time, Kosova should agree to put on the agenda the implementation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities agreed in 2013 and 2015. We support the EU special envoy Miroslav Lajcak in his efforts to finally normalize relations between the two countries as part of the dialogue in order to move forward”.

In recent weeks, Serbs have erected barricades on the roads in the north of Mitrovica. Among other things, they are protesting against the arrest of a police officer who allegedly attacked a polling station. On Thursday there was also a demonstration in the north.

Militant Serbs who erected the barricades and organized the demonstration belong to supporters of the Serbian List party, which is under the direct control of the government in Serbia.

/a.p./