UK calls on Serbia: Release three Kosovo policemen immediately

The United Kingdom has called for the immediate release of three police officers abducted by Serbia on June 14.

Ambassador Neil Holland, Head of the UK Delegation to the OSCE, said his country is aware of rising tensions between Kosovo and Serbia, Gazeta Express reports.

He said the governments of Kosovo and Serbia should exercise maximum restraint, avoid unilateral action and take immediate steps to de-escalate.

“We have repeated our calls to the Kosovo government to ensure that elected mayors of municipalities perform their duties from alternative locations and that special police units are withdrawn from near municipal buildings.”

The UK said that new, inclusive elections should be scheduled as soon as possible – “in which we expect and encourage the participation of Kosovo Serbs.”

“We expect Kosovo and Serbia to re-engage constructively in the dialogue facilitated by the EU and, in particular, to begin work on the establishment of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities without further delay.”

Holland made these remarks after the presentation of the report by the head of the OSCE mission in Serbia, Jan Brathu./Gazeta Express/