Kosovo co-operation- US and Strategic Dialogue, American Envoy's Visit to Balkans

After meeting with Kasanofin in her office, Osmani said Kosovo needs strategic dialogue with the United States.

At the meeting with Cassanoff, President Osmani also discussed the possibility of deepening co-operation in various areas of mutual interest, such as the area of defence and security”, Osmani's office said in a news release.

The United States has not been satisfied with the actions of Kosovo authorities in the Serb-dominated north this year, saying they have influenced the partnership between the two countries.

Washington has named it “unilaterally” and “uncoordinated” government decisions led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the north for stopping the Serbian dinar, closing Serbian parallel institutions and aims for opening the bridge over the Iber River.

Kurti consistently insists that his government's actions are not directed against anyone, that it follows the Constitution and the laws of Kosovo, and that relations with the US are good, despite disagreements on certain issues.

After the meeting late Thursday, Prime Minister Kurti wrote on Facebook that with Kasanofin “we handled a wide range of topics, with the focus on empowering bilateral relations, expanding mutual co-operation and synergy in areas of common interest”.

He said the United States of America is Kosovo's main partner and ally.

Kurti's office said in a preliminary statement that Prime Minister “handled the possibilities of co-operation, even with the new emissary Alexander Kasanoff, as well as our European partners following elections held and new commissionaries”.

Kasanoff is visiting Kosovo for the first time as an American envoy for the Western Balkans after he succeeded Gabriel Escobar as he is expected to hold consultations with opposition leaders, civil society and businesses.

Kasanoff came to Pristina after a visit to Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina this week.

Meanwhile, Kurti's office said that at his meeting with the American envoy Thursday “addressed and dialogue with Serbia, where the prime minister expressed Kosovo's constructiveity in the process and the need for full implementation and the first of the Brussels Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Entex Improvatory Annex”.

Kosovo and Serbia have been negotiating the normalisation of relations since 2011.

But there has been no meeting among the top leaders for more than a year.

Both sides accuse each other of failing to implement the agreements reached so far.