Grenell Denies U.S. Supports Land Swap Plan between Serbia and Kosovo

Richard Grenell (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

The U.S. president Donald Trump’s special envoy for the Balkans, Richard Grenell, denied on Feb. 19 that a plan on the exchange of territory between Serbia and Kosovo is still popular in U.S. circles.

“Fake news” wrote Grenell on Twitter, reacting to a report by the EU Observer’s portal saying that a plan on territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo is still popular in U.S. circles, and that Special Envoy Richard Grenell continues to promote the idea of a ‘quick deal’ on Serbia’s recognition of Kosovo.

“You never called or wrote to ask. I am for what parties agree to. I’m focused on economic development, not politics,” the U.S. diplomat wrote.

Under the title “U.S. still Open to Kosovo-Serbia Land Swap,” the EU Observer on Feb. 18 published an interview with the special envoy of the U.S. secretary of state for the Western Balkans, Matthew Palmer, saying that he had not ruled out the possibility of territory swap between Serbia and Kosovo.

“It is up to the parties to establish the parameters of the dialogue. What we support is the parties finding a path to return to the negotiating table, putting the issues of concern on the negotiating table, and finding a path toward the normalization of their relationship. We’d like to see mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo as the outcome of the [negotiation] process,” Palmer told the Brussels-based portal when asked about the said plan.