US Warns Serbia and Kosovo: Meet Obligations or Risk EU Membership Progress
The United States has issued a warning to both Kosovo and Serbia, urging them to fulfill their obligations and commitments in order to normalize relations and achieve mutual recognition. The warning comes after recent talks between Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Brussels failed to make progress.
U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, emphasized that both countries need to be willing to compromise in order to move forward. He stated that in order to achieve their goal of joining the European Union (EU), both sides must be prepared to give and take.
One of the major sticking points in the negotiations is Serbia’s refusal to recognize Kosovo’s 2008 declaration of independence. Tensions between ethnic Serbs and Kosovar institutions have also led to violence against NATO peacekeepers. In May, locals boycotted local elections in four mostly Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo, resulting in violent clashes.
During the talks in Brussels, Kurti was not willing to move forward with the establishment of an association of Serb-majority municipalities that would provide more autonomy to Serbs in Kosovo’s north. This association was initially approved by Pristina under the EU-sponsored Ohrid agreement with Belgrade.
Hovenier stressed that both Pristina and Belgrade need to take parallel steps to ensure progress towards the goal of mutual recognition. He emphasized that the establishment of the association of municipalities is crucial for moving the process forward.
While acknowledging that there may be disagreements about the specifics and timing of each step, Hovenier emphasized the urgency of making progress. He called on Kosovo to take the necessary steps towards establishing the association, while also expecting Serbia to fulfill its commitments under the Ohrid Agreement.
The EU has expressed its frustration with the lack of progress made by both parties in de-escalating tensions in northern Kosovo. It highlighted Pristina’s actions such as expropriations, evictions, and the use of special forces for routine policing, as well as Belgrade’s obstruction of the energy roadmap and other actions.
Kurti recently accused Miroslav Lajcak, the EU’s special envoy for dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade, of taking a biased position against Kosovo. However, Hovenier affirmed Washington’s confidence in Lajcak and expressed hope that the Kosovo government would work with the EU representatives to achieve their strategic goals.
The United States supports the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia as an important step towards the longer-term goal of mutual recognition. However, Hovenier emphasized that the establishment of the association of municipalities is a necessary and achievable step that must occur for Kosovo to progress on its path towards European integration.
In conclusion, the United States has warned both Kosovo and Serbia that failing to fulfill their obligations and commitments could hinder their progress towards EU membership. Compromises are necessary, and the establishment of the association of municipalities is seen as a crucial step in the process. The US supports the normalization of relations between the two countries and urges them to work towards mutual recognition.
