Stoltenberg: We will do everything to maintain the stability of the Western Balkans

NATO will do everything necessary to maintain stability in the Western Balkans region, said the Secretary General of the Alliance, Jens Stoltenberg.

When asked how he sees the mission of KFOR in the future and whether he thinks that NATO could take on a greater role in order to improve security in the north of Kosovo, he replied that the Alliance has a history of presence there.

"And we have only recently increased our presence in Kosovo by adding a thousand soldiers," Stoltenberg said at a press conference ahead of a two-day meeting of NATO foreign ministers.

He said that he had just visited the Western Balkans where he met with leaders from the entire region, reports Tanjug.

"We are now evaluating whether it should be a more permanent increase, whether there is a need for some new capabilities, but we have already taken important steps by increasing our presence," Stoltenberg said.

He called on Pristina and Belgrade to engage in dialogue with the mediation of the European Union.

"We believe that the proposal for an Association with a Serbian majority could be an important step forward that would move the dialogue in a more constructive direction. My message is, again, that both sides must refrain from incendiary rhetoric and not carry out any actions that can further increase tensions in the region," said Stoltenbeg.