Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti has published eight points that, which according to him, would lead to de-escalation of the situation in four northern municipalities of Kosova: North Mitrovica, Zvecan, Zubin Potok, and Leposavic.

Kurti stated that he proposed these points to High Representative of the European Union Josep Borrell last week when the latter suggested a “dialogue for de-escalation” of the situation in the northern part of Kosova.

According to, the first point implies that Kosova is ready to reduce police presence in municipal buildings and their surroundings, but this can only happen if the violence in that region is reduced too.

Another point involves judicial processes for the main perpetrators of violence, which would be monitored by EULEX and relevant human rights NGOs.

Another point includes early elections through a petition for the removal of the current mayors, which must be supported by at least 20% of the region in question constituency.

The final point involves the transfer of authority from the current mayors to the newly elected ones after the certification of election results.

Kurti stated that Serbia is also expected to withdraw violent protesters from municipal buildings, commit to cooperation in pretrial detention and judicial proceedings of violence perpetrators during protests in the north.

Furthermore, Kurti mentioned that Serbia should reduce the state of alert of own armed forces and not obstruct or interfere in the right of Kosova’s Serbian citizens and all political parties to participate freely, without intimidation, obligation, or corrupt influence, in the local election process in Kosova. The 8-point plan presented by Kurti for the de-escalation of the situation in Kosova is as follows:

1) Decrease Kosova Police presence in and around municipal buildings gradually in proportion to reduction in violence;

2) Provide full access and monitoring, by EULEX and interested Human Rights NGOs, of judicial proceedings in relation to perpetrators of violence;

3) Organize early elections in the four northern municipalities when triggered by a recall petition supported by at least 20 percent of the constituency, as foreseen by Kosova law. Election date is to be set following a confirmation of having met the recall requirements by the President;

4) Instruct subsequently the four mayors in question to hand over their authority to the newly elected mayors after certification by the Kosova Election Commission in accordance with Kosova law.

Meanwhile, from Serbia we expect the following:

1) Withdraw violent protesters from the municipal buildings and surrounding areas;

2) Pledge to cooperate in detention and judicial processing of offenders from Kosova, through EULEX monitoring and full due process guarantees;

3) Reduce state of alert of the armed forces to a low level, no new troop movements, removal of 48 Forward Operating Bases situated along the border.

4) Refrain from impeding or interfering with the right of ethnic Serb citizens and of all political parties to freely participate, without intimidation, coercion, or corrupt influence, in the local electoral process.

On Thursday, the President of the European Council Charles Michel supported the idea of an international conference on Kosova and Serbia to reduce tensions between the two.

The tensions between Kosovo and Serbia have escalated due to the situation in northern Kosovo, an area predominantly inhabited by Serbs. For a month now, there have been protests against Albanian mayors who emerged from the elections held on April 23. The protests have escalated into violent clashes between Serbian demonstrators and NATO’s KFOR troops.

/a.p./