White House: Situation in Kosovo, on edge of knife

In a review of American foreign policy over the past four years under the leadership of President Joe Biden, White House Deputy Adviser for National Security Ion Finer said Wednesday that the security situation in the Western Balkans remains “a major concern for the United States. ”

Invited to discuss various global issues at the Chatham House International Institute, headquartered in London, Mr. Finner, who has served in this senior position at the White House, was also asked about the situation in the Western Balkans, Russian and Chinese influence in the region, and the unresolved conflict between Kosovo and Serbia.

He said that “has been holding two main dividing lines that we are most concerned about in the Western Balkans for the rest of the”, while stressing that President Biden remains committed to the security issues of this region since he headed the Senate Foreign Relations Commission.

“One is the situation in Kosovo, an essential ally of the United States, which is on the edge of knife”, said Mr. Finner.

Finer said that as for Kosovo, it is an American stance that it “should be both sovereign and respect minority communities which exist within what is a sovereign Kosovo”.

Finer stressed that these are issues that President Biden's administration has engaged “manages, often under radar through careful diplomacy across the entire (mandata) of this administration”, and that they remain the challenges which need to be observed and where the situation continues to be disturbing.

He said that the other concern for the US in this region “is the possible division, the” of Bosnia, “at least one of the leaders, Mr. Dodik, is at least in rhetorical form following an agenda calling for the dissolution of the state, which we strongly oppose”.

He said the United States believes that “has no better approach than (the Dayton Agreement) to maintain peace in Bosnia”. / VOA