Foreign Minister of the partially recognized Republic of Kosovo, Donika Gerwala-Schwartz, said that the Kosovo authorities are open to the possibility of holding new local elections in Serb-majority municipalities. It is reported by Reuters.

The statement was made by Kosovo's Foreign Minister during a meeting with his Czech counterpart Jan Lipaski in Prague.

“Yes, we are ready to hold elections in these four municipalities, but for this we need to take a few more steps,” Gerwala-Schwartz said.

The Kosovo publication Telegrafi reports that the CEC of Kosovo also announced its readiness to re-hold local elections in northern Kosovo.

On June 5, the EU rapporteur on Serbia, Vladimir Bilchik, called on the Serbs to return to the power structures of Kosovo.

The Serbian population and parties boycotted the partial local elections in northern Kosovo on 23 April, which led to the victory of the Albanian candidates. Their arrival at city halls sparked protests and violence on May 29, in which about 100 people were injured. After the clashes, NATO increased its presence in Kosovo, adding 700 people to the KFOR mission.

Earlier, the head of the NATO mission in Kosovo KFOR, Angelo Michele Ristuccia, called it a mistake that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti appointed Albanians as heads of municipalities in the Serb-majority province without consulting international partners.