UPDATE - Finland ready to back continuation of Serbia-Kosovo dialogue

ADDS REMARKS FROM SPANISH FOREIGN MINISTER

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

OSLO, Norway (AA) - Finland is ready to support the continuation of the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue amid the ongoing clashes, Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said Thursday.

"We are extremely concerned about the unrest in the northern municipalities in Kosovo, ... and we urge Kosovo to solve this issue," Haavisto said during his doorstep remarks in Oslo, where an informal NATO foreign ministers meeting is taking place.

"We are ready to support the continuation of the Serbia-Kosovo dialogue," he said, and added: "It's very important from our part."

During the clashes in Kosovo, at least 30 NATO soldiers were injured.

According to hospital sources, more than 53 civilians were injured by shock bombs and tear gas.

NATO recently decided to deploy 700 additional troops to the country and keep a battalion ready in case of further need.

Regarding the support to Ukraine, he said Helsinki has delivered 16 military packages to Ukraine so far.

Concerning Sweden's NATO bid, Haavisto said his country is ready to do its "utmost" so that Sweden could become a member prior to the Vilnius Summit in July.

Meanwhile, Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, during his doorstep remarks, said Sweden has fulfilled "all the commitments" to become a NATO member, calling on Türkiye and Hungary to ratify its bid.

"This was never a sprint; it's a marathon, and we now see the end of it," Billstrom added.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Alberes also affirmed that he is confident that the next summit in Vilnius "will be the definitive moment in which Sweden can finally, as Spain wishes" to join NATO.

Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership soon after the start of the Ukraine war in February 2022. Finland joined the alliance in April, while Sweden is still making reforms to obtain membership.

Sweden is joining the informal meeting in Oslo as a NATO invitee.