U.S. Official: Washington Gives Priority to Dialogue on Normalization of Ties between Kosovo and Serbia  

Karen Donfried /commons.wikimedia.org/United States Department of State

After meeting Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti in Pristina, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Karen Donfried has said that Washington is giving priority to the EU-brokered dialogue and assistance to Kosovo in normalizing relations with Serbia, focusing on mutual recognition.  

“We give priority to the dialogue mediated by the EU and assistance to Kosovo in normalizing relations with Serbia, focusing on mutual recognition. Status quo is unsustainable. Such status not only hinders EU future of Kosovo and Serbia, but also goes in favor of the Kremlin. Russia wants to destroy any unity and democratic consolidation in the Western Balkans,” Donfried said in the evening on April 25. 

Speaking at a joint news conference, Kurti said that in order to maintain lasting peace and stability and regional security, it was necessary to as soon as possible integrate the Western Balkans in the EU and NATO, the countries which were democratic and had imposed sanctions against Russia.

Donfried also had a meeting with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, which was attended by U.S. Special Envoy for the Balkans Gabriel Escobar. She said that after the war in Ukraine, it would be very important to pursue reforms for integration into north Atlantic institutions.

On April 26, Donfried is visiting Belgrade where she will meet with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. Donfried is on a Western Balkans tour from April 25 to 29, according to an earlier release from the State Department.