State Department Spokesman: Washington Hoping for Soon Resolution of Belgrade-Pristina Dispute over Vehicle Plates

State Department (Flickr.com/ Photo by: U.S. Department of State (IIP Bureau)

The U.S. fully supported the EU-facilitated dialogue and would continue to be a partner both to Kosovo and Serbia in the hope that they could resolve the dispute over vehicle license plates peacefully in the course of the coming days, Ned Price, the spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said at a news briefing in Washington in the evening on Oct. 24.  

Asked about expectations and the message to Pristina and Belgrade with Oct. 31 deadline for replacement of license plates approaching, Price said that Washington’s message had been “consistent” and that the U.S. fully supported the EU-brokered dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Price also recalled that Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar had visited Pristina and Belgrade to support the process and that Secretary of State Antony Blinken had conveyed the same message to both Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Premier Albin Kurti in meetings on Oct. 11.  

“He (Blinken) underscored our support for the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. He urged continued constructive engagement to secure peace and stability across the region. We will continue to support that EU dialogue. We will continue to be a partner both to Kosovo and Serbia in the hope that they can resolve this dispute peacefully in the course of the coming days,” Price said.