OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Secretary General concerned about tensions in Kosovo

ROME, VIENNA, 28 March 2018 -- In light of the 26 March events in northern Kosovo and subsequent developments, the OSCE Chairmanship-in-Office and the OSCE Secretary General call on all sides to refrain from provocations and re-engage in constructive dialogue. 

“We deplore the events of 26 March. They represent a serious escalation of the situation in Kosovo and threaten to undermine the remarkable achievements of the normalization process, thus causing significant tension and instability. Allefforts must be made to avoid provocations,” said the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano, and the OSCE Secretary General, Thomas Greminger.

Kosovo Police special units intervened on Monday at a meeting and arrested Serbian government official Marko Đurić, citing the lack of permission to visit. During the intervention, 32 people were injured. 

“We call on all parties to do their utmost to defuse tensions and resume the normalization dialogue. The OSCE remains committed to supporting the dialogue and contributing to the implementation of agreements, including the Association/Community of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo,” said Alfano and Greminger.