US and EU address Osman Kurt: Dialogue must resume immediately, without delay

Lajcak said he is in contact with the US, and that they are drafting a strategy for dialogue, stressing that once the new government is formed in Kosovo, it will continue where it remains, without delay.

The co-operation has brought good results in recent years. I am in constant contact with my American colleagues in order to prepare a common strategy and coordinated activities. The EU message is clear: We are ready to continue the dialogue we have left in December, as soon as the new government in Kosovo is formed. I am also ready to visit the region and meet with negotiators as soon as conditions allow that. The EU has clearly said that there is no form other than dialogue on the European road of Kosovo and Serbia. Likewise, continuing dialogue without unnecessary delay is in the interest of all”, Lajcak has said.

Lajcak's statement comes immediately after the demands of senior US officials to Kurti and Osmani, even in the letters to congratulate Kosovo independence. The importance of restarting dialogue was also highlighted by the president of the United States of America, Joe Biden, but also the US ambassador to Kosovo, Philip Costnet.

These statements conflict with statements by former Prime Minister Kurti, who is also the winner of the February 14th elections. He has stated that dialogue is not his priority, as it is neither a priority of citizens who have voted it.

This theme ranks sixth or seventh among citizens' priorities. All polls show that their main concerns are employment, economy, justice... Anyway, I'm willing to compromise, put dialogue in the third or fourth order of my priorities! The EU and the Balkans are very important for each other, but more than for a common market, we need investments. Southeast Europe is draining the brain and the EU should help us stop this bloodshed. The Western Balkan countries will one day integrate and I think all should be at the same time. If one of these countries enters the EU before others, we will still have problems, as is the case between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia.”, Kurti said in an interview for Le Temps.

The same message for Kurt and Osman included France's President Emmanuel Macron in his letter to President Vjosa Osmani.

In Macron's letter to Osmani, it is said it is important that discussions can resume as soon as possible after the new government is elected on the basis of progress already made.

“I would like to welcome Kosovo's commitment to dialogue with Serbia since its resumption, following the summit that Chancellor Merkel and I held on July 10th 2020. I fully support the European Union's mediation and its special representative for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, with the aim of reaching a comprehensive, final and legally binding agreement. It is important that discussions can resume as soon as possible, after the new Kosovo government has been elected, on the basis of progress already made”, Macron said in his letter.

The same call to win elections in Kosovo has been addressed by the president of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

In this letter, the importance of restarting dialogue last year by incumbent Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti and the importance of continuing dialogue.

The importance of dialogue and reaching an agreement between Kosovo and Serbia today has also been reached by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

It in a letter of congratulations on the 13th anniversary of Kosovo's independence has said reaching an inclusive agreement focused on mutual recognition would require flexibility and readiness for compromise from all sides.

On behalf of the US government, I want to congratulate Kosovo as it celebrates its 13th anniversary as a sovereign and independent state. The US is proud of its early and ongoing role in supporting the independent Republic of Kosovo, to develop into a multiethnic, inclusive and democratic country. Kosovo has made significant steps towards a more prosperous, stable and secure future. We congratulate the establishment of formal diplomatic relations with Israel and welcome your efforts to normalise relations with Serbia. Reaching a comprehensive agreement, focused on mutual recognition, will require flexibility and willingness to compromise on all sides. The US praises the strong link between our people and will continue to support Kosovo on its path towards Euro-Atlantic integration. I wish good security and health to the people of Kosovo, as we continue to work together to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic COVID-19”.”, says Blinken's letter.

It remains to be seen what position and steps the new government will take after the formation.