The tensions in the north of Kosova have made the calls of the US to be harsh against Prime Minister Albin Kurti, demanding the holding of new elections and the formation of the Association of Serbian municipalities.

These criticisms, for Kurti to take a step back, have led to the allusion of a crisis in relations between Kosova and the US, but Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar has clarified that Albin Kurti is a partner of the US, although sometimes he is a difficult partner.

“I have to make it clear – Mr. Kurti is our partner. He is sometimes a difficult partner, but he is a partner. Kosova is our partner. Serbia is our partner. So, in the future, we want to use the good relations we have with Kosova and the improving relations we have with Serbia to find a way, to find a mutually acceptable and mutually beneficial way so that both are part of the EU, together. And not only that, but that both help open the door to integration for the rest of the region. So we want to use our good relationship to help mediate in the future,” Escobar told Zoran Korac, founder and director of the Belgrade-based Institute for Politics and Economics of Southeast Europe (IPESE).

Escobar once again reiterated the demands of the US for Kosova to hold elections and implement the formation of the Association of Serbian Municipalities and the parties to return to the implementation of the Ohrid agreement.

“Yes, what we had in Ohrid: we reached an agreement. A legally binding agreement that opened the door to a peaceful, constructive and predictable relationship between Serbia and Kosova under European rules. When we left Ohrid, we left optimistic. In the two months since we reached that agreement, we have had many political crises and I would say that they were all predictable and could have been avoided.

So we have to find a way to de-escalate the processes immediately, to de-escalate the situation and immediately return to the focus of the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement. For Serbia, this means putting an end to the blocking of Kosova’s European and international integration. For Kosova, this means the beginning of the implementation process of the Association of Serbian Municipalities. We have to work on both things immediately,” said Escobar.

Escobar said for the Serbian Institute that the US will continue to advocate for the progress of the Western Balkans and see it as an area of great opportunity that should be fully integrated into the European Union.

Escobar said that the US remain very engaged in the Western Balkans. Although the the news is dominated by political tensions and problems. The US consider the Western Balkans an area of tremendous opportunity. The defining characteristic of the Western Balkans at the moment is strong economic growth and strong economic potential.

The region has the potential to be a leader in IT, transport, energy, infrastructure, transport and even tourism. The region has excellent universities, a talented workforce and a relatively young workforce. So we will continue to invest in this, and we hope that investing in the future of the region will help overcome some political problems.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Escobar added that if the US had a greater role in decision-making, by 2030 the entire region would be within the EU.

/a.p./