America and European Countries Condemn Violence in Kosovo

Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and the United States condemned Kosovo's decision to forcibly enter certain municipal buildings in Northern Kosovo and called on the authorities to step back and de-escalate the situation. In a joint statement, the five countries said, "We condemn Kosovo's decision to forcibly enter municipal buildings in Northern Kosovo despite our calls for restraint." They urged "the authorities in Kosovo to immediately step back and halt the escalation, and to closely coordinate with the European Union mission and the NATO mission in Kosovo." They expressed concern over the heightened alert of Serbian armed forces along the border with Kosovo, stating: "We call on all parties to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid inflammatory rhetoric."