Trump wants agreement within months on Kosovo, Green has full mandate to achieve

The new US emissary for Kosovo has been assigned tasks and given a full mandate to reach an agreement between Pristina and their neighbours Belgrade as soon as possible, according to a close official with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who declined to be appointed.

Richard Green, who is also ambassador of the US to Berlin, spoke to Thaci in Pristina on Wednesday, as well as to other officials after the extraordinary weekend elections.

According to the official, Grenelli has said the dispute with the two neighbours is an urgent case that solutions should be found within months. The two sides halted talks last year that were evidence of starting co-operation after the 1998-1999 war and of Kosovo's further declaration of independence.

Green also met with election winner Albin Kurtin and outgoing Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj, who is expected to replace Kurti. The ambassador has not provided details as to how the potential agreement that could be reached might appear. The idea of exchange of territories has been around for some time now, but has met with great opposition from nationalists from both sides and the EU.

Green will travel to Serbia on Thursday, where it will meet with Serbia's President, Aleksandar Vucic.

The American Emissar's visit could mark a change of course, with an EU that has been mediating negotiations among older enemies for years.