O People who Believe! What is America's stand for the Open Balkans?

Albania, Northern Macedonia and Serbia have signed the Open “Balkan Agreement” that opens their economic markets by releasing them from various trade barriers and offering free human circulation among others.

This initiative has also been encouraged by the European Union [EU], which has changed its enlargement policy in recent years due to the political growth of far-right parties in its member states.

However, Kosovo has come up with such initiative through all parliamentary parties, and most importantly, through the only government party to be led by the prime minister.

But what is the position of the biggest ally of Kosovo, the United States?

The US last year launched the process of economic normalisation between Kosovo and Serbia, which culminated in the September 4th White House Agreement.

The American Embassy in Pristina has encouraged the Kurti II Government to approach the Open Balkans with “open-minded”.

We encourage the government to approach efforts for open-minded regional economic integration and embrace solutions that produce results for Kosovars as they improve reports with its neighbours”, has said about REL a spokesman for the US Embassy in Pristina, Periscopi follows.

What does an open mind mean for the open Balkans?

So far, the Kosovo government has unveiled a series of excuses. Foreign Minister Donika Grovalla Schwarz has declared that the initiative in question could violate Kosovo's EU integration process and violate Kosovo's pro-Western alliance.

Likewise, many analysts have cited Serbia's dominance in the smaller economies of other participating countries.

But what else does it say? The United States?

“We encourage Kosovo to seek opportunities to reduce trade barriers, increase its economic competitiveness and build an integrated region and stable economy that will benefit all Kosovars”, it is further said in its response.