The State Department called the actions of the Kosovo authorities the reason for the escalation in the region

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken called the decision of the local “government” to take control of municipal buildings in the north of the province as the reason for the aggravation of the situation in Kosovo and called on all parties to immediately de-escalate.

“The Kosovo government’s decision to gain access to municipal buildings by force led to a sharp and unnecessary escalation of tensions,” Blinken said in a statement.

He called on the “Prime Minister” of the self-proclaimed Kosovo Albina Kurti pull police units away from the buildings and have “elected mayors” carry out their “transitional duties” from “alternative locations”.

“To the President (of Serbia Alexander) Vucic the level of readiness of the Serbian armed forces should be lowered and the Kosovo Serbs should be urged to stop obstructing KFOR and refrain from new violent actions”, Blinken said.

Both sides of the conflict should, he said, return to the dialogue on the normalization of relations, which is under the auspices of the European Union.