Eight senators wrote to Beden: Congress's Support of Kosovo, Serbia Warnings

First senators Jeanne Shaheen, Christopher S. Murphy, Chris Van Hollen, Benjamin L. Cardinal, Pete Ricketts, Thom Thillis, Peter Welch and Richard J. Durbin expressed concern before the president about Serb violence over KFOR forces.

This letter values US efforts to de-progress tensions, but according to them, these efforts have not been mutually mutually from Kosovo, which further states that because of this approach they are willing to change the support of Congress.

Mr. President Biden, we write to express our sincere concern over the heavy situation in northern Kosovo, where recent Serb violence against NATO's Kosovo Force (KFOR) in northern Kosovo has hurt approximately 40 NATO peacekeeping soldiers. After these attacks, we are concerned about decisions made by the governments of Kosovo and Serbia that continue to defuse tensions instead of reducing them. We are particularly concerned about the continued security and welfare of approximately 600 American soldiers serving within KFOR. We appreciate the United States' diplomatic efforts to reduce the crisis, but these efforts have not mutually been from Kosovo in particular. As a result, we are willing to consider changing the support of Congress”, says the newspaper Express.

Eight senators have expressed happiness that the US has taken concrete steps to build better relations with Serbia and contribution to Kosovo's independence in 2008.

The United States has a long history in the Western Balkan region. We are proud that the United States played a role in Kosovo's independence in 2008. Also, we are happy that the United States has taken concrete steps to build a relationship with Serbia. There is a bipartisan commitment to preserve the strong leadership of the United States in the region, but also to ensure that our diplomatic capital can be used effectively to resolve outstanding issues between the two countries, they stress in the letter sent to the president.

They have expressed disappointment at the recent actions of the governments of Serbia and Kosovo that jeopardise opportunities for normalisation, according to them, making provocative decisions that threaten the prospect of improving bilateral relations.

This includes the recent arrests of three Kosovo Police officers by Serbian authorities on 14 June. Kosovo Serbs' decision to refuse to participate in municipal local elections, as well as the Kosovo government's actions to break into municipal buildings have led to a dramatic transition of tensions and violence that now threatens the fragile peace in the region. ”

They have called for increased diplomatic pressure to end the crisis and to resume progress launched under the Ohrid Agreement.

“We encourage you to apply diplomatic pressure to end this current crisis and resume progress in the Ohrid Agreement. We support the European Union's proposal for Serbia and Kosovo, which includes: the withdrawal of the mayors from municipal buildings in northern Kosovo; the suspension of police operations in the vicinity of municipal buildings, accompanied by the end of protests; the proclamation of new municipal elections with the engagement of Kosovo Serbs; and the return to dialogue for implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, including the Association of Serb majority municipalities in northern Kosovo<1>, it is said further on this letter.

They have sought to suspend the sale of weapons to both states and enhance bilateral relations with Kosovo and Serbia as a way to increase the pressure.

We encourage you to suspend planned foreign arms sales and any further expansion of bilateral security relations with both countries. We request that the administration submit a report to the U.S. Senate to confirm that both governments are exercising all their strength to avoid any action that might unduly affect the security of American troops participating in KFOR. We are also ready to review annual bilateral financing and authorisations for both countries according to the need”, it is further said.

Mr. President, the United States has always played a constructive role in the region, and we want this involvement to continue. But these relationships must be built on good manners, real cooperation, and shared values. We do not see this recent episode of tensions as a temporary deviation in bilateral relations; we see this as a crucial moment in the course of our relations with the two countries. If the fundamental elements of the relationship are not mutual, we encourage you to consider further steps to limit these relationships, as we have presented above”, it is finally said.