VOA: U.S. Administration Shares Congress’s Concerns over Increased Tensions in Northern Kosovo

The Washington State Capitol Legislative Building (foto:Wikimedia/Cacophony)

Asked to comment on the letter eight senators sent U.S. President Joe Biden regarding the escalating tensions in Kosovo’s north, the U.S. administration told the Voice of America (VoA) that it shares Congress’s concerns, the VoA reported in a June 28 article for its Serbian service. 

“The U.S. officials in the Government, including the White House and State Department, are closely cooperating with partners from the European Union to find a diplomatic solution to the recent events,” the White House National Security Council spokesperson said in the response.

“The leaders of Kosovo and Serbia have been asked to de-escalate and to re-focus on implementing the agreements on normalization which have been signed this year,” it was added. 

“We have clearly indicated that normalizing relations, participating in democratic processes and respecting the rule of law will contribute to stability and security in northern Kosovo,” the response said.

A bi-partisan group of senators requested that Biden and his administration prioritize resolving the “deteriorating” security situation between Kosovo and Serbia.

The letter urged Biden to consider postponing all pending military sales to the two sides until they commit to abiding by the EU’s plan for normalizing relations.

The senators’ appeal comes amidst new tensions between Kosovo and Serbia and a new standstill in their mutual negotiations, which are mediated by the European Union with the support of the U.S.