Maintaining a dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina is the only means of reducing tensions and improving the situation of minority groups residing in Serbia and Kosovo, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier told Sputnik
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 10th June, 2019) Maintaining a dialogue between Belgrade and Prishtina is the only means of reducing tensions and improving the situation of minority groups residing in Serbia and Kosovo, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Lamberto Zannier told Sputnik."Dialogue - both between Prishtina and Belgrade and among communities in Kosovo - is the only way to address tensions and improve the condition of non-majority communities there," Zannier said.
The commissioner noted that while Kosovo had mechanisms for protecting the rights of all communities living in the self-proclaimed republic, they needed "to be upheld by stronger political will and supported by a coherent strategy of the international community" in order to be efficient.
"Provisions related to the use of language, public employment and access to justice are particularly important to increase the well-being of all communities in Kosovo," he said.
Serbs represent the largest minority group in Kosovo, totaling about 150,000 of the partially recognized state's population. Other minority groups in Kosovo include Bosniaks, Croats, Gorani, Turks, Roma, Askhali and Egyptians.
The statement comes following a flare-up of tensions in late May, when Kosovar police launched a special operation under the pretext of combating organized crime in the country's Serb-populated north. Several people were injured and at least 19 people were detained as a result, including two staff members of the UN Mission in Kosovo.
Kosovo unilaterally proclaimed independence from Serbia on February 17, 2008. The self-proclaimed republic is recognized by over 100 UN member states. Serbia, as well as Russia, China, Israel, Iran, Spain, Greece and a number of other countries have not recognized Kosovo's independence.
