Tensions on the border / Kurti proposes the date of new elections in the north of Kosovo

The prime minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, spoke on France24 television about the situation created in the north and the demands of the international community for a quick de-escalation of the situation.

During the several-minute interview, Kurti said that there could be early elections in the north after a few months. Kurti said that elections can only be held after the removal of violent groups from the north.

"After a few months, we may have early elections, but this is not the goal. The goal is the rule of law. We must first remove the violent gangs and only then we can have elections", declared the Prime Minister.

Meanwhile, the US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that the new elections in the four municipalities in the north should not wait until the end of July.

Likewise, Prime Minister Kurti said that the elections should be preceded by a free and fair campaign. He stated that in Kosovo, power cannot be taken without participation in the elections.

"First we need a free and fair campaign, and then early elections. I know that I know that these four mayors will not be re-elected. But in Kosovo, you cannot take power without participating in the elections", declared the Prime Minister.

Regarding the four Albanian mayors in the northern municipalities, Kurti said that their legitimacy is low, but he stated that it is not their fault for the boycott of the elections in these municipalities.

"It is not the fault of the current mayors that there was a low turnout in the elections. They are legal. It is true that their political legitimacy is weak, but that of others is zero", he continued.

According to the prime minister, because the idea of ??territorial exchange with Serbia has failed, now this attempt has become violent.

"A few years ago, the border exchange was a euphemism for the division of Kosovo. Now, the project for the division of Kosovo has become violent. Serbia and Russia hate the fact that Kosovo is a success story of NATO intervention and economic and democratic progress", he said at the end.