Escobar: Association and Council of Europe are linked to each other

Escobar before journalists has clearly clarified US expectations on both sides: The implementation of agreements reached in Ohrid.

“U agreed that all elements of that agreement would be implemented immediately, asking Kosovo to form association, and from Serbia not to block Kosovo's path to Euro-Atlantic and international organisations --” stressed Escobar.

He expressed his disappointment that both sides have failed to respect this commitment, but remains optimistic that restoring the agreement on the right path would contribute to reconciliation and lasting relations between the two states.

Regarding Kosovo's membership process in the Council of Europe and concerns raised about Association, Escobar said the US has no right to vote, but knows that there are concerned members that some of the requirements have not been met by Kosovo.

He reiterated the American stance that Kosovo should be a full member of the European Union, NATO and the United Nations, and meant the importance of listening to European partners on the road to Kosovo.

“Now, is the American stance that Kosovo should be a full member of the European Union, NATO and the United Nations. We'll keep working on it. But, meanwhile, on the European road, I think it is important that Kosovo listen to its European partners and work with their European partners, while we strengthen Kosovo's candidacy for all Euro-Atlantic structures”, he confirmed.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti has been at the centre of questions also about association and membership in the Council of Europe, excluding the first part of Kosovo's way to this institution.

Escobar stressed that these are very close, referring to Kosovo's clear pledges for dealing with minorities and including association.

Well, look, I think they're very connected. I mean, one is that the Council of Europe is dealing with minority treatment, and Kosovo has made clear pledges to dealing with minorities, and that includes association. Now, this is a long-standing commitment and is written in the Ahtisaari Plan; it is written in the Brussels Agreement; and Ohrid. And so we are fighting to understand why Kosovo does not fulfill its legal obligation, and has not done and signaled in many ways that it is committed to doing so. And the worry is that after membership it will only bring greater delays, and this is the belief of some”, Escobar added.

He added that Western diplomats who have been in contact with Pristina fully represent the national government policy and that Kosovo must work closely with European and American partners to meet existing legal obligations.

“Now, as far as the dispute with some Western diplomats is concerned, all diplomats with whom he has met fully represent the national government's policy. So Kurt will hear the same message from all levels of the American government, Italian, French, German. So it's not really we're just messengers of a national policy. So I would encourage Kosovo to work closely with its European and American partners to find a way to move forward on an existing legal obligation that will have to be done anyway. So the sooner we do it together, the more effective we can be in establishing a case for Kosovo's continued integration and additional recognition of Kosovo”, the American official says.

Eventually, Escobar encouraged Kosovo to act actively to speed up the European integration process and to enhance international recognitions of the state of Kosovo. /Telegraph