European Union's top diplomat Kallas visits Serbia and Kosovo

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, will visit Kosovo on May 22 and 23, as part of a tour that will start on May 21 in the Western Balkans, the EU Diplomatic Service has announced.

Kallas will also travel to Serbia and North Macedonia during her second visit to the region, Brussels announced on Wednesday.

"In Kosovo, High Representative Kallas will meet with representatives of political parties and civil society organizations," an EU statement said.

The head of European diplomacy has also planned to hold a press conference on May 22.

Kallas will visit Kosovo at a time when Kosovo authorities are repeating calls for the lifting of EU measures against the country, and have even requested that this happen before the continuation of the dialogue for the normalization of relations with Serbia.

The EU, on the other hand, has called for a de-escalation of the situation in Kosovo, as Kosovo continues to close down parallel Serbian institutions in the north of the country, which has prompted Brussels' reaction .

In Pristina, Kallas is also expected to visit the EU Rule of Law Mission (EULEX), as well as the commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) peacekeeping mission in Kosovo - KFOR, Enrico Barduani.

Kallas' visit to Pristina this week was announced by Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, who said that due to her planned official visit to Switzerland, she would not be able to receive the European chief diplomat in Kosovo.

Before visiting Kosovo, Kallas will stay in Serbia.

The EU has announced that Kallas will meet in Belgrade with President Aleksandar Vučić, Prime Minister Đuro Macut, as well as Foreign Minister Marko Đurić, Minister for European Integration Nemanja Starović, and Parliament Speaker Ana Brnabić, and opposition parliamentary groups.

Meanwhile, the European chief diplomat will meet with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in Skopje, Brussels has announced.

In the Macedonian capital, Kallas "will open the first Security and Defence Dialogue between the EU and North Macedonia with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Timco Mucunski", the EU Diplomatic Service announced./ REL