Dutch and Luxembourg PMs urge Serbia and Kosovo to defuse tensions underneath shadow of struggle in Ukraine

BELGRADE, Serbia — The prime ministers of the Netherlands and Luxembourg on Monday urged Serbia and Kosovo to behave to defuse current tensions which have threatened to push the Balkan area into instability as Europe faces Russia’s aggression in Ukraine.

Dutch PM Mark Rutte and Xavier Bettel, the Luxembourg PM, spoke after assembly Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade. Rutte and Bettel journey to Kosovo on Tuesday for conferences with prime officers there.

“We cannot, both of us, emphasize enough how important it is that both Serbia and Kosovo take steps toward de-escalation and ultimately normalization of their relations through the EU-led dialogue,” mentioned Rutte.

“This is crucial for the two countries themselves, first and foremost, but also for the entire region and Europe as a whole,” he added. “With a war raging between Russia and Ukraine on our continent, it’s more important than ever that we act together.”

Serbia and its former province Kosovo have been at odds for many years, with Belgrade refusing to acknowledge Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence. Western efforts to resolve the disaster have elevated lately, to avert doable instability within the Balkans as struggle ravages Ukraine.

Tensions between the 2 nations flared anew in May after Kosovo police seized native municipal buildings in Serb-majority northern Kosovo to put in ethnic Albanian mayors who had been elected in an April election that Serbs overwhelmingly boycotted.

Violent clashes injured 30 worldwide peacekeepers and greater than 50 ethnic Serbs, stirring fears of a renewal of the 1998-99 battle that left greater than 10,000 folks useless, principally Kosovar Albanians.

The U.S and the EU have pressed Serbia and Kosovo to take steps to decrease tensions. Normalization of relations is the important thing situation for the 2 nations to maneuver ahead of their efforts to affix the EU.

Bettel, too, known as on the 2 sides to behave.

“Words are good, actions are better,” he mentioned. “And we need to advance on these topics and to show also that there is a wish of de-escalation.”

Vucic expressed hope that the 2 prime ministers’ go to to Serbia and Kosovo would assist. “I promised that Serbia will do all it can to preserve peace and stability,” he mentioned.

Washington and most EU nations have acknowledged Kosovo’s independence, whereas Russia and China have backed Serbia’s declare on the territory.