Turkish President Erdogan urges Serbian, Kosovar leaders to return to dialogue

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke by phone with his Serbian counterpart and Kosovo prime minister on Wednesday, emphasizing the importance of dialogue in resolving issues in northern Kosovo, according to the Presidency's Directorate of Communications.

During separate phone calls, Erdogan also discussed bilateral relations and regional issues with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, who both congratulated the president on his reelection.

On Sunday, Türkiye went to the polls for a presidential runoff election after no candidate secured over 50% needed for an outright victory in the first round on May 14.

Erdogan won the race with more than 52% of the vote, while opposition candidate Kemal Kilicdaroglu got over 47%, according to the unofficial results.

Regarding the developments in the north of Kosovo, Erdogan said the only way to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region is to progress in the dialogue process.

He stressed that Türkiye stands ready to make the necessary contributions to the advancement of dialogue between the parties.

Last month, Kosovo Serbs boycotted extraordinary local government elections for four municipalities. Only 3.47% of eligible voters cast ballots, according to the Kosovo Central Election Commission (KQZ).

After the elections, the EU said in a statement that low turnout did not provide the municipalities with long-term political solutions.

As tensions rose in the region, neighboring Serbia ordered its army to advance to the border with Kosovo – which Serbia claims to be its own territory – and urged NATO to “stop the violence against local Serbs in Kosovo.”

The EU requires Kosovo and Serbia to reach a final agreement and resolve disputes to progress in their integration into the bloc.