Escobar: Barricades in Kosovo should be removed by those who set them up

(Patria) - The Government of Kosovo announced that at the meeting of Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti with EU envoy for dialogue Miroslav Lajčák and US envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar, it was unanimously agreed to remove the barricades in northern Kosovo.

In a late statement from the Kosovo government, it is stated that a unanimous conviction was reached that the barricades in the north should be removed.

"They discussed the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia and the next steps, the latest developments in the country and current issues. At the meeting, a joint agreement was reached to remove the barricades in the north, which obstruct freedom of movement," the statement said.

Also, the statement adds that Kurti said that Kosovo is a constructive party in the dialogue with Serbia.

"Through readiness for meetings and talks, Kosovo has continuously shown itself as a constructive party committed to reaching a legally and internationally binding agreement for the full normalisation of mutual relations with Serbia with mutual recognition at the centre," said Kurti, Prime Minister of Kosovo.

Meanwhile, Escobar has been in Kosovo since Sunday, and in an interview for the portal Reporteri, he said that the barricades should be removed by those who set them up.

He added that he got the impression that local Serbs feel isolated from the Kosovo government, but also that they are afraid of some people connected to Belgrade.

"I heard this from them. I also heard from members of civil society and other people who are not politically connected, that in many cases they feel isolated from the central authorities. Now, in some cases, they also feel intimidated by some people connected to Belgrade. That is why we must find a way out of this trap. And the way forward is through careful coordination, open dialogue and full engagement in the dialogue facilitated by the EU," Escobar stated.

Today, Escobar and Miroslav Lajčák will hold a meeting with Vučić.