Donfried: Dialogue urgent issues, US and KFOR take care of your safety

The United States of America is urgently urging Kosovo and Serbia to sit at the negotiating table to reach an agreement that has mutual recognition centred. According to them, the war in Ukraine has created a situation between <x0 emergency and opportunity”, which gives hope that dialogue can move forward.

We often say that success has no timeline. But, again, I think that because of the factors I mentioned earlier, the urgency caused by Russia's war against Ukraine, the electoral pause that gives us a chance, I hope we will see positive movements in the short and non-term”, has stressed Donfried.

But Americans are more open and determined when it comes to Kosovo's security, which, according to various analysts, could be violated as a result of the war in Ukraine. Two “vatra” possible where Russia may cause problems are mentioned in Kosovo and Bosnia.

American officials are carefully following the situation.

We don't see anything to suggest that Russia has raised attention to promoting instability here”, she points out.

Donfried assures Kosovars that they can feel safe with the military presence that is in Kosovo.

“You can feel safe that the US is taking care of your security and that KFOR, along with the US, will ensure there is no increased escalation in Kosovo.

T7: Mrs. Donfried, initially, thank you very much for this interview. Yesterday you stressed that Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is an urgent issue. When you wait for Mr. Kurt and Mr. Should they sit around the negotiating table since there's more than a year since their last meeting?

NS Donfreed: First of all, I'm very happy to be in Kosovo and thank you for taking the time for this interview. Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with President Osmani and Prime Minister Kurti, and I think they share our sense of how important it is for the EU-attensive dialogue to move forward. In my view, it is clear that Kosovo's future is as a member of the European Union and NATO. Vital to moving towards those goals is a comprehensive agreement aimed at normalising relations with Serbia focused on mutual recognition. We see this dialogue facilitated by the EU as a key part of it, and therefore we are so eager to see progress. I don't know the specific timelines, but I think we'll see positive moves if there's will on all sides.

T7: Is the Kosovo government ready to return dialogue? Is there any condition for this and what Prime Minister Kurti told you yesterday, especially on the matter?

NS Donfreed: The obvious meaning that I have from both of them, the president and the prime minister, is that there is readiness to engage with seriousness and creativity in dialogue and there was no condition that expressed that.

T7: But as you know in the past, Kurt had a stricter attitude towards dialogue. He has agreed to go to Brussels, but many times has said dialogue is not a priority for him. Does the U.S. find it difficult to work with our prime minister?

NS Donfreed: What I consider important for this moment is that the context has changed and there are different reasons for this, but let me name two of them. One has to do with changing the geopolitical context because of Russia's fight against Ukraine. And I think we see how important regional stability is maybe even more clearly now than we've seen before. So, I think that's a motivation. I also think that today we have the advantage of an election pause. We have just had elections in Serbia; we also had elections in some major European states, so I think today we have an opportunity that hasn't been the same before. And for me, this combination of urgency and opportunity makes me hope that the dialogue will move forward.

T7: Yes, but last week in Brussels we faced failure. Kosovo and Serbia reached no agreement on plates even after six months of negotiations. This is not promising at all. I want to know your opinion on this?

NS Donfreed: You have to be optimistic about diplomacy. So the glass is half full, not half empty. The reason why we have a dialogue facilitated by the EU is because these are difficult issues and what we like the US are doing through supporting the EU-attensive dialogue is to push the parties forward. Maybe, you know, I'm going to Serbia today, where I'm going to have similar discussions and I hope that we will see serious and creative commitment from both sides to move this forward.

T7: To conclude with the dialogue: Does the American side have a deadline when it would like to see it closed?

NS Donfreed: Timelines... we often say success has no timeline. But, again, I think that because of the factors I mentioned earlier, the urgency caused by Russia's war against Ukraine, the electoral pause that gives us an opportunity, I hope we will see positive movements in the short and long term.

T7: Yesterday, you said Russia took advantage of the current situation and called on Kosovo and Serbia to join in opposing the Kremlin. But can we really expect Serbia to go against Russia?

NS Donfreed: I think it may be best for Serbia to respond to its motivations, but I will say that in the context of the war in Ukraine, we saw that Serbia at the UN General Assembly was established and condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Also, we have seen Serbia demand Russia's withdrawal. So, I think we have seen a change in Serbia's attitude and I also want to say how much we, in the United States, appreciate Kosovo's very clear stance on Ukraine. It not only condemned the war but opened the doors to Ukrainians, including journalists, and implemented sanctions imposed. So I think the geopolitical context, Russia's fight against Ukraine is changing dynamics here.

T7: One issue that is being discussed with intensity in Kosovo after the war in Ukraine is Kosovo's NATO membership. Some say a way to speed up membership can be found. How is this viewed in Washington?

NS Donfreed: I still want to stress our strong support for Kosovo's membership in the European Union and NATO. And I want to assure everyone in Kosovo again that the United States is committed to helping you on this road. As far as NATO is concerned, we are in the middle of the ten-year implementation plan for the Kosovo Security Force. I think this plan, which the United States fully supports, is preparing you very well for that future NATO membership. There are many criteria for NATO membership and the path of reform in which you are, you are extremely well positioned for your future in NATO.

T7: A high-ranking military man, Mr. Howard, was part of your delegation yesterday. What was the order of his presence there?

NS Donfreed: It was very important to me that General Howard, who is deputy commander of the European Command, be with me on this journey. I say that for some reason. One, I was willing to demonstrate the US government's entire effort to support Kosovo. The other reason is that because of Russia's fight against Ukraine, I know there is increased uncertainty in Kosovo about stability in the Western Balkans in general and especially in Kosovo. And the presence of General Howard reminds us all of the important role KFOR plays here in Kosovo and the US contribution, as the biggest contributor to that NATO force, for stability in Kosovo. So, I also like the symbolic that we are here together, but also the reminder of the broad support the United States gives to Kosovo.

T7: You mentioned KFOR's presence in Kosovo. But is the US base in Kosovo, Bondsteel, an additional guarantor of Kosovo's security?

NS Donfreed: I want to assure the Kosovars that they can feel because of KFOR, and I want to remind them that it is the biggest dislocated NATO force in the United States, and that it is the biggest contributor to KFOR, and because of US guarantees for Kosovo (let me say that we don't see any added threat to Kosovo security; we don't see anything suggesting Russia has increased the attention to promoting instability here) so that for all these reasons they can feel sure that the US is taking care of your security and that KFOR, along with the US, will not add to further growth in Kosovo.

T7: How safe do you think Bosnia is? It is said to be among the countries where Russia extends its influence.

NS Donfreed: I can assure you that we, the United States, are paying close attention to stability throughout the region, including Bosnia. But, we, even through the American Embassy here in Kosovo, just want to say how happy I am that Jeff Havenier is here as an American ambassador. As for the ambassador's appointment, Kosovo is very lucky to have Ambassador Havenier through the American Embassy, whether through KFOR, the EU or the OSCE, great attention is paid to the situation here and across the region. And of course, we in the United States are committed to maintaining this concentration in Kosovo and the Western Balkans.

T7: I have a question for Ukraine, since it falls under your wallet. Russia is continuing aggression there. Two American secretaries were in Kiev. What are the US expectations of how long the war will last there?

NS Donfreed: How long will this war last? You know, my crystal ball is a little vague about this, but I can tell you there's a person in this world who can end the war in Ukraine by tomorrow. And that's Vladimir Putin. It is Vladimir Putin who made the decision to start the unproached and unwarranted war against Ukraine. What we've seen for the past two months is the brutality of that war. And Vladimir Putin can end the war today if he chooses to do it and I hope he does it because it's so sad to see Ukrainians die every day. We are committed to helping to end this war as quickly as possible, and again I want to thank Kosovo for its role in supporting Ukraine at this critical moment.

T7: Kosovo has housed it and offered to pay financial expenses for a Ukrainian journalist. He has also offered refuge for 5,000 refugees. Can Kosovo and Ukraine get closer? In fact, can Ukraine recognise Kosovo as a state or not? Or do you think now is not the time to discuss this matter?

NS Donfreed: I guess that's a question for Ukraine, but I think Kosovo's role towards Ukraine is something I appreciate and I'm not surprised by it. The reason why I say this is because we've seen how Kosovo came to the aid at times when others needed it. And here I also want to thank Kosovo for the role you played to help Afghans at risk. This was another moment when Kosovo opened its doors to people in need. We were so grateful for your role and I think there are at least 600 Afghans who are in the United States right now and are beginning their new life thanks to Kosovo's role. Therefore, I want to congratulate Kosovo on being on the right side of history, whether it concerns Ukraine or Afghanistan. And that's why you should feel very proud.

T7: You mentioned Secretary Albright yesterday. Kosovo leaders will go to her funeral in Washington. As you know, she was a figure that has contributed greatly to Kosovo and is highly respected here. Without her contribution, we probably wouldn't even have this interview. How do you explain this?

NS Donfreed: First, I want to say that I am very grateful to President Osmani for the way Madeleine Albright honored her here in Kosovo and it is very appropriate that she and your prime minister are now traveling to Washington for burial. Because as you said, no one can question Madeleine Albright's commitment to Kosovo. And she played that role for either NATO intervention or support for Kosovo's independence, as well as its continued support for Kosovo to move towards democratic reforms. I think that the greatest honour to its heritage will be the day Kosovo joins the European Union and NATO. Nothing would make him happier. Again, I think there are very few people, at least in the United States, who have played the role she played for your country. And it's so appropriate that you're honoring him that way.

T7: Mrs. Donfried, thank you very much for your time.

NS Donfreed: It was my pleasure. Thank you.