The US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar said today in Belgrade that the situation in the north of Kosovo must be immediately de-escalated.

Addressing the media at the US embassy in Belgrade, Escobar said that the US and the EU hope for new elections and that they want Serbs to participate in them.

"The biggest challenge for Serbia is to convince the Serbs to return to the institutions. President Aleksandar Vucic said that he will use his influence for Serbs to participate in the elections," said Escobar, who together with Lajcak met with the President of Serbia last night.

Escobar also gave an answer to the question related to the Community of Serbian Municipalities.

"ZSO will be established, but the only question is whether with this Kosovo government or with a future one, that is a request that the Kosovo government should fulfill. This is what it says in the Brussels Agreement, in the conclusions of the EU Council and in the Ohrid Agreement," said Escobar.