North Macedonia’s President Urges Normalization of Relations in Kosovo

Stevo Pendarovski (Betaphoto/President of Northern Macedonia Press office/Goran Georgievski/

North Macedonia’s President Stevo Pendarovski appealed on Dec. 12 that relations in Kosovo be normalized, in order to “guarantee peace, stability, security and progress, for our neighbors and the region at large.”

Speaking at a meeting in Skopje with the Kosovo speaker, Glauk Konjufca, Pendarovski said that North Macedonia was supporting the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue mediated by the EU and the U.S. to produce a comprehensive solution, the Office of the President quoted Pendarovski as saying.

“Opinions and information were exchanged about the situation in the region, and the conclusion is that in the context of new geopolitical challenges caused by the war in Ukraine, the peaceful resolution of all open issues in the Western Balkans should be an absolute imperative for all,” the Office went on to say in a release.

The Kosovo speaker said at a joint press conference with his North Macedonian counterpart, Talat Xhiaferi, that Serbia, with its actions over the past few days, wanted to destabilize and divide Kosovo, and that for that purpose it wanted the situation to escalate further.

Konjufca said over the past 30 days two steps had been taken in full coordination with the U.S. and the EU – reaching an agreement on registration plates and postponing an election in the north of Kosovo. Now it’s Serbia’s turn, Konjufca said.

“On the other hand, Serbia responded by supporting the exponents of organized crime in the north of Kosovo, who have been taking steps contrary to Kosovo’s laws. They have also erected barricades, closing roads for our international friends as well. We are not going to let Vucic take command in Kosovo using these gangs,” the Kosovo speaker said.