Serbia-Kosovo talks entered the eleventh-hour, and the US State Department is following the situation very closely.
Last week, the Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar had discussions in Pristina and Belgrade that made “no results yet.” Over the weekend, Miroslav Lajcak continued to work on behalf of the EU to find a solution for the license plates and energy issues.
Asked by The Pavlovic Today on Monday about Secretary Blinken’s message to Pristina and Belgrade, given that the October 31st deadline is fast approaching for brokering the deal on license plates, State Department spokesman Ned Price reaffirmed American support for Serbia-Kosovo talks.
“Our message on this has been consistent. We fully support the EU-facilitated dialogue,” said Price. “That’s why DAS Escobar, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabe Escobar, was in Pristina and Belgrade to support this process. As you know, the Secretary himself has also been deeply engaged on this. He spoke with both Serbian President Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Kurti earlier this month, on October 11th, I believe it was. He underscored our support for the EU-facilitated Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. He urged continued constructive engagement to secure peace and stability across the region,” said Price.
As time ticks away for Pristina and Belgrade to bridge some significant differences, there is still hope that the agreement can be reached.
“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 told The Pavlovic Today.
The most recent talks between Belgarde and Pristina saw an inescapable deadlock develop, and hope for mutually acceptable solutions wane. What everyone behind the scenes agrees on is that strong US involvement is what is needed.
Serbia-Kosovo Reconciliation Begins: Serbia-Kosovo agreement is legally binding, says Gabriel Escobar
The implementation annex agreed upon by Serbia and Kosovo in Ohrid, North Macedonia, consists of twelve provisions. The Pavlovic Today asked US Deputy Assistant Secretary Gabriel Escobar on Monday about the timeline for implementing all provisions of the annex. What exactly does the future hold for the implementation annex? Serbian President Vucic’s post-meeting remarks suggest…
Keep reading
Secretary Blinken lauds Kosovo-Serbia deal as key step toward EU membership and economic progress
The United States has welcomed the agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia through European Union facilitation on the implementation of their EU proposal agreed on February 27, on the path to normalization of relations, according to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. “We commend the President of Serbia and Prime Minister of Kosovo for their leadership…
Keep reading
Department Of State Urges Kosovo And Serbia To Immediatly Implement Their Agreement
The United States Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs has urged Kosovo and Serbia to immediately implement their agreement to normalize relations. This follows the successful EU-brokered talks in Ohrid, North Macedonia, which were seen as a significant step towards resolving the long-standing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. The Department of State’s…
Keep reading