Speaking to reporters after a meeting with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani in Pristina on Wednesday, the senior U.S. official emphasized the need for Kosovo and Serbia to implement the agreements already reached as part of the EU-facilitated dialogue.

The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State underscored that both Kosovo and Serbia must make tough decisions in the interest of progress.

He dismissed President Osmani’s claims that the European Union was not pursuing a balanced approach in the mediated normalization dialogue.

“Both sides should go on with full implementation of the agreement. So it is not a unilateral effort for Kosovo only to make tough decisions,” Escobar said.

Expressing concern over the terrorist attack in Banjska last September, the U.S. Envoy stressed the necessity of bringing those responsible to justice. He also reaffirmed U.S. support for Kosovo’s sovereignty and independence.

On her part, President Osmani underscored the need for Kosovo’s institutions to coordinate their actions with the United States. She also urged Serbia to extradite the terrorists responsible for the Banjska attack in September last year.

Osmani added that the U.S committment and role is key to succesful conclusion of the normalisation dialogue that would lead to mutual recognition, “just like President Biden has underlined in his lattest letter.”

Kosovo and Serbia reached a EU-facilitated agreement on normalization of their relations on February 27, 2023.

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The US Envoy said a day ago that his visit to Pristina is of particular importance as it focus on addressing critical issues, including the Serbian dinar ban in the country.

“Firstly, the discussion will revolve around Kosovo’s recent decision by its central bank to prohibit the use of the Serbian dinar, effective as of February. Secondly, the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will be a primary focus, aiming to advance efforts towards reconciliation and stability in the region,” he told reporters in Brussels ahead of today’s visit to Kosovo.

Escobar said that the Kosovo authorities’ decision to enforce the central bank’s resolution was “catastrophic” and “incompetent.”

Ahead of his visit, Escobar emphasized the United States’ firm expectation for both Kosovo and Serbia to approach the dialogue process with sincerity and dedication.

Escobar’s visit to Pristina is part of a eight-day trip to countries like Belgium, Austria and Montenegro that he began on March 10.

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“Our public statements are an indicator of our current diplomatic and political relations. We are worried about the fact that the Kosovo government is not treating us as a partner. They are not consulting us. They are not working with us on regional security,” the U.S. diplomat said.

The U.S. Envoy Escobar criticized the Kosovo government following the latest decision to ban the use of the Serbian currency in the Serb-dominated north of the country.

“Kosovo government makes it very difficult for us to support Kosovo on many issues, including NATO, European Union candidacy, the Council of Europe, and a number of other organizations,” he noted.

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During the meeting, the two interlocutors discussed progress of democratizing and integrating reforms and Parliament support to take these reform efforts forward.

“The Albanian-U.S. relations are better than ever before. The strategic partnership has been materialized in the excellent cooperation in the UN Security Council and will further strengthen in the UN Human Rights Council. The United States wants to Albania as a partner and supports its application in as many international organizations as possible. The U.S. strongly supports Albania’s EU integration, praises the country’s achievements and encourages stronger fight against corruption,” the Albanian Assembly said in a press release.

Escobar said that the United States is determined to defend Kosovo’s independence, sovereignty, integrity and security and support its membership with the international organizations.

“The U.S. has condemned the September 24 terrorist act and Serbia’s responsibility for this action. Ohrid Agreement is a strategic one and work should be done for its implementation. The U.S. supports the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia dialogue as the only way towards peace and security and we are working for Kosovo’s recognition by the five EU member states that have yet to recognize the country and we are embarking on a global recognition campaign for Kosovo,” the Assembly said.

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According to a Kosovo government release, talks focused on full and speedy implementation of the Framework Agreement and its Annex.

PM Kurti confirmed Kosovo’s readiness to engage in active negotiations during Thursday’s meeting in Brussels. Kurti also expressed gratitude for the continued U.S. support for Kosovo.

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Deputy Prime Minister, at the same time the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Belinda Balluku conveyed the message during the meeting she held in Washington with the envoy of the United States of America for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar.

Balluku and Escobar discussed several issues related to recent developments in the region and the role that Albania should have during the actual situation.

Balluku wrote on the social media after the meeting that Escobar, who is one of the best experts on our region in the State Department, together with his team, expressed their willingness to offer their help in solving the situation and their determination for the progress of reforms and life processes for all countries of the Western Balkans.

“Washington – At the State Department, I met Gabriel Escobar, the US envoy for the Western Balkans. We discussed several critical issues for the region, the current events of the last few days, and above all, the important role that Albania and Prime Minister Edi Rama are playing in these crucial moments. Escobar remains one of the best experts on the region at the State Department. He and his team are ready to help in solving situations and in the progress of reforms and vital processes for the countries of the Western Balkans. I assured him that the Albanian Government is fully focused on fulfilling the commitments taken and above all we are aware of the important role we have to play in the region and the good example we have to set”, said Balluku.

Balluku is on a visit to the United States of America where she held several important meetings, as well as participated in the Conference on Regional Cooperation for the Western Balkans, organized by the Transatlantic Leadership and the Atlantic Council. /k.s/p.s./

Commenting on recent situation in Kosovo during an interview for the Croatian newspaper Jutarnji List, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar also noted that there were indications suggesting that Serbia’s President Vucic may accept the EU-sponsored plan.

However, Escobar acknowledged he couldn’t say the same about Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

“There are ‘positive indications’ that Belgrade could accept it, but I cannot say the same about Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti,” Escobar said, according to Jutarnji List.

“We hope that (Kurti) will at some point comply with the European and American requirement,” Escobar said.

He emphasized that the consequence of not accepting the European plan would be a lost opportunity.

“It is not a punitive measure, it is a missed opportunity,”  Escobar added.

When asked what consequences this could have for Kosovo and whether one of them would be the withdrawal of KFOR, Escobar said that this possibility was “not on the table”.

“Our partnership with Kosovo is a partnership with the people of Kosovo, not with one party or one political figure,” the U.S. Envoy for the Western Balkans said.

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The Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar made the statement during a discussion at Atlantic Council, together with the EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčák, who voiced concern over most recent developments in north of Kosovo.

“I am very concerned because this situation has the potential to turn into a regional conflict and this is the reason why we strongly support European efforts. This should be mainly an European effort since the two countries lie in Europe and joining the European Union is their highest aspiration,” Escobar said.

The EU Special Envoy Miroslav Lajčák said that extension and return to dialogue should be a top priority for the international community.

“If we fail to extend it, we will have victims. We cannot accept this,” Lajčák said. He repeated the EU’s request for new elections, with the participation of all Serbs, without preconditions.

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The two diplomats also praised as “serious” a proposal on establishment of the Serb Municipalities Association forwarded by the Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama to French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on June 8.

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar and EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and Western Balkans Miroslav Lajčák issued these statements during a meeting at the Atlantic Council to discuss recent developments in the region, the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue, US-EU cooperation in the region, and strategies to ensure the implementation of the Ohrid and Brussels agreements.

Escobar also rejected claims that Washington is recently favoring Serbia over Kosovo, whereas Lajčák stated that both countries would face consequences if refusing to deescalate situation.

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Speaking at a press conference, Escobar said that both Kosovo and Serbia should take steps towards stability.

He stated that those who reject the partnership with the U.S. will have consequences.

Escobar underlined that both Kosovo and Serbia have a role to play in deescalating the mounting tensions.

“We are asking both sides to take steps for stability and those who want us as partners will work closely with the points we are insisting on. Those who refuse the partnership will have consequences,” Escobar said.

The European Union’s foreign policy Chief Josep Borrell said a day ago that he will invite Kosovo and Serbia to an urgent meeting in Brussels next week.

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