Following the decision of the Government of Kosovo to apply reciprocity measures regarding the circulation of vehicles with Serbian license plates, the United States has joined the calls of the European Union for both parties to take measures in order to reduce tensions.

“We join the EU in calling on Kosovo and Serbia to refrain from further unilateral action and reduce tensions immediately, without delay,” the US Embassy in Prishtina said in a statement.

Earlier, European Union spokesman Peter Stano said both sides should work to create an atmosphere that would help ease movement and reduce tensions.

Authorities in Kosovo on September 20th launched a reciprocity measure for vehicle license plates from Serbia, saying such a decision was not taken against Serbs, but was imposed by Serbia. But Serbs have gathered near border crossings in northern Kosovo, blocking roads as a sign of discontent.

The Minister of Internal Affairs in Kosovo, Xhelal Sveçla said that the security situation in Kosovo is calm and that the police have taken all measures not to hinder free movement.

According to the decision of the authorities in Prishtina, vehicles entering from Serbia must be equipped with temporary license plates at Kosovo border crossings. Authorities in Kosovo are putting up temporary registration plates for vehicles with Serbian license plates in Serbian cities. Cars are being placed on the windshield front and rear.

Serbia has implemented the same measure for many years now for vehicles from Kosovo.

The issue of license plates was regulated by the Brussels Agreement on Free Movement, in the framework of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, which stipulated that all car owners residing in Kosovo, should use the license plates’ KS ‘(Kosovo) or’ RKS (Republic of Kosovo) and thus remove from use the license plates issued to Kosovo Serbs by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia.