Thewesternbalkans
The US State Department’s Special Representative to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, arrived today (March 13) for a visit to Kosovo. The visit is part of a tour that started in Belgium and will continue in Kosovo, Austria and Montenegro. In Pristina, Escobar will hold meetings with President Vyosa Osmani, with other institutional leaders, as well as with the leaders of the opposition parties.
The US envoy for Kosovo, Gabriel Escobar, told journalists that the Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is at a critical stage because of uncoordinated decisions such as the one of the Central Bank of Kosovo (CBK) banning the use of the Serbian dinar: “It is necessary for Kosovo to work with the international community to help find a way out of this, I would say, disastrous decision (by the CBK) which is creating chaos in the Kosovo economy. The partnership between the US and the citizens (of Kosovo) does not go through a person or a party, but I would say that we now have communication problems with Prime Minister Kurti. This is not a problem that only the US, EU, NATO and UK have. And other countries like North Macedonia and Albania have it too.” According to Escobar, by ignoring the Dialogue with Serbia, Kosovo is neglecting its Euro-Atlantic future.
When Escobar was asked whether the draft resolution of the US Senate, which calls for the opening of the EU’s first negotiating cluster with the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) without additional bilateral conditions, represents a change in the US position regarding the change of the country’s Constitution, he emphasized that the RNM and Bulgaria are important members of NATO and allies of Washington, and in this sense the American administration wants a peaceful resolution of all problems. “We received an assurance from Bulgaria that they want North Macedonia to be a member of the EU. We must take advantage of these opportunities, because the RNM must be an equal candidate for EU membership,” added Escobar. He emphasized that the US expects a government dedicated to NATO and the integration of the RNM into the EU to be formed after the elections.
Comment: Gabriel Escobar’s admissions that the situation in Kosovo is “terrible” and that there is a breakdown in diplomatic communication between Washington and Pristina confirm his previously expressed disturbing premonitions about the Kosovo conflict. The US, Kosovo’s biggest supporter, is now clearly warning that the situation in Kosovo could turn into a regional conflict.
