The Chargé d’Affaires at the United States Embassy in Kosovo, Anu Prattipati, met today with the four newly inaugurated mayors of Serb-majority municipalities in northern Kosovo.
She was received by the Mayor of North Mitrovica, Milan Radojević; the Mayor of Leposavić, Zoran Todić; the Mayor of Zvečan, Dragiša Milović; and the Mayor of Zubin Potok, Miloš Perović.
According to a statement by the U.S. Embassy, during the meeting Prattipati emphasized U.S. expectations for transparent and effective governance and the importance of providing equal services to all citizens.
“[During the meeting, it was also emphasized] the importance of cooperation with public security institutions that are committed to serving all communities,” the embassy statement said.
During her visit to the Serb-majority north, Prattipati also held meetings with representatives of civil society.
The visit comes after the October local elections, following which Serb List—the largest Kosovo Serb party backed by Belgrade—regained control of these four Serb-majority municipalities.
North Mitrovica, Leposavić, Zvečan, and Zubin Potok had been led by Albanian mayors from May 2023 until the October 2025 elections, after representatives of Serb List resigned from Kosovo institutions in November 2022.
The resignations were part of a coordinated initiative by Kosovo Serbs to withdraw from state institutions in protest against decisions by the Government of Kosovo.
During the period when Albanian mayors were in office, municipal authorities in the north took control of municipally owned buildings that housed Serbian institutions, halted construction they considered illegal and financed by Serbia, and warned of the demolition of settlements built without permits.
Additionally, during the summer of this year, the Municipality of North Mitrovica signed a memorandum of understanding with the Municipality of South Mitrovica, which envisaged the construction of bridges over the Ibar River for pedestrians and vehicles. The memorandum was supported by the Government of Kosovo but opposed by Serb List.
Serb List has announced that it will seek a review of all decisions taken during the previous period by the municipal leadership, including the agreement on bridge construction and measures against constructions deemed illegal.
According to the Law on Local Self-Government, for any municipal decision or act that is not in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo, a review may be requested by the supervisory authority—in this case, the Ministry of Local Government Administration or other relevant institutions of the Government of Kosovo.