Stoltenberg: NATO to do what is necessary to maintain stability in W Balkans

BRUSSELS - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who has recently visited the Western Balkans, said on Monday NATO would "do what is necessary to maintain stability" in the region.

"It is important for NATO - we have a history there, we have a presence there and we have just recently increased our presence in Kosovo by adding 1,000 extra troops," Stoltenberg told reporters in Brussels when asked by Tanjug about his take on the future of the Kfor mission and whether he believed NATO could take on a greater role to improve security in the north of Kosovo-Metohija.

"We are now assessing whether this should be a more enduring increase, whether there is a need for any particular new capabilities, but we have already taken important steps by increasing our presence," he said.

"We also urge both Pristina and Belgrade to engage in good faith in the EU-facilitated dialogue, and we also believe that the proposal for an association of Serb-majority municipalities could be an important step forward in moving this dialogue in a more constructive direction," he said.

"My message both in Pristina and Belgrade was that both parties must refrain from inflammatory rhetoric and must, of course, not conduct any actions that can further increase tensions in the region," Stoltenberg concluded.