UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed concern over the tensions between Belgrade and Pristina and the related security risks on the ground, the Beta news agency reported.

The agency said that Guterres expressed concern in his latest report over the adopting of the laws to transform the Kosovo Security Forces into a military force, recalling that UN Security Council resolution 1244 is still the only legal framework for an international security presence. The report covers the period between October 16, 2018 and January 15, 2019.  

“The key thing is for the leaders on both sides to avoid any action that could additionally raise tensions, to take steps towards reconciliation and look for ways to work on the dialogue with European Union mediation to normalize relations,” the report is quoted as saying.  

Guterres’ report says that the Secretary-General is aware of the challenges facing Belgrade and Pristina in their search for a solution. He encouraged the leaders on both sides to transform their rivalry into problem-solving dynamics, adding that the important thing is for them to show commitment to reaching a comprehensive agreement by creating conditions to continue the dialogue.  

The UN Secretary General recalled that the Kosovo government introduced 10 percent tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina early in November because of Belgrade’s alleged attempts to weaken Pristina’s international position and then raised them to 100 percent and banned goods carrying the designation UNMIK Kosovo and Kosovo and Metohija later that month a day after the Interpol General Assembly failed to accept Kosovo as a member of that organization.

The report added that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that Belgrade would not take part in the dialogue while the tariffs are in place.  

Guterres also recalled that top international community officials called the Kosovo government to revoke the tariffs and return to the dialogue.  

A separate section of the report on the north of Kosovo said that UNMIK did not notice any great effect of the new tariffs on the supply of basic goods and services for the population of the north of Kosovo but added that no print media in Serbia have come into Kosovo since the tariffs were imposed. This section of the report said that no progress had been achieved in reopening the main bridge in the divided town of Mitrovica and recalled the arrests of four Kosovo Serbs, two of who are members of the Kosovo police, during the investigation into the murder of Kosovo Serb opposition leader Oliver Ivanovic.

UNMIK will continue to focus on building trust among the communities, the report said.