U.S. Congressman, Senator Seek Additional Pressure on Serbia over Kosovo

Mike Pompeo (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel, a Democrat, and New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez, the most senior Democrat of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, have requested from the U.S. administration to pursue its diplomatic support to resolving the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia in “a just way for both countries,” and in accordance with U.S. law and longtime policy, Voice of America (VoA) reported on April 14.

In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Engel and Menendez warn that the “heavy-handed tactics” the (Donald) Trump administration is using with Kosovo,  “is unjustly punishing the new cabinet,” while Serbia’s campaign against recognition of Kosovo as an independent state and its close ties with Kremlin have largely gone unpunished, according to VoA.

They agree that the tariffs imposed by Pristina on the goods coming from Serbia which have been removed, were mostly hurting Kosovo citizens, adding that this is a means employed by the governments across the globe, and often also by the Trump administration.

“Kosovo is a close ally of the U.S. and we call on you to adopt a patient and more constructive approach toward a democratically elected government,” it is said in the letter signed by Congressman Engel and Senator Menendez.

They recalled that on Jan. 23, the U.S. ambassador to Germany and acting director of National Intelligence, Richard Grenell, also serving as President Trump’s envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, had called on Serbia to discontinue its campaign against recognition of Kosovo and in parallel on Kosovo to lift the tariffs. Since, according to Engel and Menendez, Washington has eased pressure on Serbia while increasing pressure on Kosovo.