Albright adviser and part of the US delegation in Rambouille, Biden nominated recognises Kosovo

U.S. President (SHBA) Joe Biden announced his intention to appoint former US envoy for the Balkans Jim (James) O'Brien, as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.

This was made known by an announcement from the White House in Washington.

The proposal awaits confirmation from the US Senate.

O'Brien has been part of the US delegation during the Rambouille negotiations between Kosovo and Serbia in 1999.

Since 2022, Jim O'Brian works as head of the Sanction Coordination Office, the ambassador's rank, at the U.S. State Department.

According to the White House announcement, O'Brien previously served in the two American administrations as a special presidential envoy. He served as senior adviser to former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, and sent president to the Balkans.

“It led a major and successful programme of sanctions and advised a series of issues, including peace negotiations in Europe, scientific and environmental agreements, Russia and Ukraine's post-Soviet transition, as well as initiatives to investigate and prosecute persons responsible for war crimes”, the White House announcement said.

O'Brien was also committed to finding a solution to the outcome of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina and helped form the 1995 Dayton Agreement, which ended this war.

He also led US support for the International War Crimes Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia, headquartered in The Hague, which helped bring people responsible for war crimes and crimes to justice.