US administration shares concerns similar to Congress over tensions in northern Kosovo

US government <x0) officials, including the White House and the State Department, have worked closely with European Union partners to find a diplomatic solution to recent events. They have committed themselves to the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to promote increased expansion and concentration in implementing normalisation agreements signed at the beginning of this year”, the spokesman said, underlining that normalisation of relations, participation in democratic processes and respect for rule of law will contribute to stability and security in northern Kosovo”, this spokesman for the Voice of America said.

He made those comments by responding to a letter that a group of democratic senators and Republicans addressed to President Joe Biden, demanding that he address the worsening security situation between Kosovo and Serbia with priority.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen along with senators Chris Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin, Pete Ricketts, Thom Tillis, Peter Welch and Dick Durbin, expressed concern with the situation in the north “where the recent Serb violence against NATO Forces in Kosovo injured about 40 NATO peacekeepers. Since those attacks, we are alarmed by the decisions of the Kosovo government and Serbia, which continue to escalate and not reduce tensions”.

The letter highlights concern about the security and well-being of about 600 American troops serving within KFOR.

“We appreciate the United States' diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions, but these efforts have not received mutual answers from Kosovo in particular. As a result, we are prepared to consider changing the support of Congress”, it says on paper.

Senators have cited the United States' role in Kosovo's independence, but also steps to build a relationship with Serbia.

They say <x0ndronized” by the recent actions of the governments of Serbia and Kosovo, naming <x2->progressive decisions that threaten to undermine opportunities to improve bilateral relations”.

The crisis in northern Kosovo followed the authorities' decision to implement the 23 April election outcome boycotted by Serbian political parties. In northern municipalities, Serb citizens' groups are continuing to oppose deployment at the municipal offices of Albanian mayors.

The senators' letter expresses support for the European Union's proposal for lowering tensions that include: withdrawing mayors from municipal buildings in northern Kosovo; suspending police operations in the vicinity of municipal buildings with the simultaneous end of protests, announcing new municipal elections with the participation of Kosovo Serbs; and a return to dialogue for implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, including the Association of Serb-run municipalities.

Senators said that without a commitment determined to take these steps, the US administration should postpone “any deepening bilateral relations in the area of security with both countries”.

Stressing that relations should be built on good will, meaningful co-operation and common values, senators stress that “do not view this recent episode of tensions as a temporary deviation in bilateral relations, but as a defining moment in our relationship trajectory with both countries”.

The European Union warned of new penalty measures for Kosovo this week. / VOA/