Escobar: Kurti will miss the opportunity if he doesn't align with partners

The US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, stated that the European plan for resolving the Kosovo issue is good and does not favor any side, RTV reports.

Escobar emphasized that the best solution for resolving the crisis in Kosovo is for Belgrade and Pristina to accept the three-point plan presented by the European Union.

"We have positive indications that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic is willing to accept it, but Prime Minister Albin Kurti needs a little more persuasion," Escobar told journalists in Zagreb prior to his attendance at today's Dubrovnik Forum.

When asked about the consequences if Belgrade and Pristina fail to meet the international community's demands for de-escalating the situation in the northern part of the province, Escobar replied that both sides would miss numerous opportunities.

"The consequences are not punitive measures; they are missed opportunities that both countries will lose if they reject the proposal for resolving the crisis," Escobar said, adding that for Pristina, it means distancing itself from close international partners and regional counterparts, while for Belgrade, it means moving further away from EU integration.

"Our partnership with Kosovo is a partnership with the people of Kosovo, not with a single party or political figure. Our commitment to KFOR and investment in Kosovo's future remain strong," Escobar concluded.