Kosovo has to work carefully with the UK on safety issues, the Balkan nation’s prime minister instructed a senior British diplomat on Thursday.
Prime Minister Albin Kurti stated he and Stuart Peach, the UK’s particular envoy to the Western Balkans, had mentioned the 2 international locations’ “great bilateral relations, current issues, and the need to work closely together to increase our cooperation in areas of mutual interest, with a focus on security matters,” throughout their assembly within the capital Pristina.
Kurti highlighted the wonderful bilateral relations and significance of the UK’s assist to Kosovo, particularly within the subject of safety after his assembly with Peach, who had met with President Vjosa Osmani earlier within the day.
TENSIONS WITH SERBIA
Peach’s go to got here amid simmering tensions between Kosovo and its bigger northern neighbor, Serbia.
Kosovo, predominantly inhabited by Albanians, broke away from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008. But Serbia has not acknowledged the transfer and sees its former province as a part of its territory.
Recent tensions have appeared to ease following the elimination of barricades blocking the principle border crossing between the 2 Balkan international locations.
Ethnic Serbs in Kosovo started erecting the blocks Dec. 10 in protest of a former police officer’s arrest.
Earlier, there had been a row about license plates, with the federal government in Pristina demanding ethnic Serbs give up Serbian-issued automobile license plates to exchange with plates issued by Kosovo.
The EU, NATO, and U.S. have referred to as for de-escalation, whereas Serbia has requested to deploy its military and police primarily based on a UN decision.
