Senator Murphy: Serbia not intervenes in election process in northern Kosovo

In an interview for the Serbian-language Voice of America service, Senator Murphy emphasises that a series of measures, such as holding new elections in Serb-run municipalities in the northern part of Kosovo, attracting special units and releasing those arrested, will lead to lower tensions.

He also stressed that Serbia should encourage Serbian residents to participate in the elections and not interfere in the election process.

If we get on the submit route, withdrawing special police units and organising new elections, I think we have an opportunity to gradually turn the dialogue back to the right direction”, Murphy said.

The United States, along with the main states of the European Union, has stepped up its demands on Kosovo and Serbia to expand the situation in Kosovo's three northern municipalities, which eventually turned into a collision arena between Kosovo police forces, Serb protesters and NATO peacekeeping forces. The situation in the north escalated following elections held in April, which were boycotted by Serbs. Albanian mayors of Kosovo's northern municipalities, opposed by Serbs, took office with police support.

Senator Murphy stressed that he would prefer the US to take a more active role in extending the situation in the region.

“I want to confirm as soon as possible the new assistant secretary for Europe, (James O'Brien), in part because President Biden's nominated for this position has a long experience in the region. Soon we will have a senior State Department official confirmed to know Kosovo, recognises Serbia, recognises the region and will be able to support the efforts of our embassy, as well as the work Mr. Escobar is doing. We have a real opportunity for the US to increase engagement, as President Biden's new appointment is a known and experienced name in the region”, he said.

But a former US lawmaker, former head of the House of Representatives' Foreign Relations Commission Eliot Engel, voiced criticism of the State Department's stance on how to address recent tensions between Serbia and Kosovo.

In an article-opinion published in the magazine Freegn Policeı on Tuesday, Engel writes that the UN “states are luring Vuciqiqi, a semi-aucrat bulylist and that on the way, they are taking a somewhat bulytic approach to Kosovo, putting pressure on the smaller and weaker country”.

This stance does not honor the United States, and it is time to change”, says former lawmaker Engel.