A group of senators wrote to Biden: Kosovo has not responded to US calls for de-escalation, support for Pristina should be reconsidered

A group of senators has sent a letter to US President Joseph Biden regarding Kosovo, urging him to exert diplomatic pressure to end the current crisis, resume the dialogue, and implement the Ohrid Agreement. They noted that Kosovo has not reciprocated the US efforts for de-escalation, leading them to reconsider their previous support for Pristina.

"We support the European Union proposal to Serbia and Kosovo, which includes: the withdrawal of mayors from municipal buildings in northern Kosovo, cessation of police operations near municipal buildings with an end to protests, holding new elections with the participation of Serbs, and resuming the dialogue on the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, including the establishment of a Community of Serb-majority Municipalities in northern Kosovo," the senators stated in their letter.

They also called on Biden to suspend all military equipment sales, as well as the deepening of bilateral security cooperation on both sides.

"We demand that the administration provide a report to the US Senate confirming that both governments exercise restraint to avoid any unnecessary actions that undermine the security of US forces within KFOR. We are also prepared to review annual aid funding allocated to both countries as needed," the letter stated.

They pointed out that the US had long played a constructive role in the region and expressed their desire to continue that engagement, however, as they emphasized, relations must be built on goodwill, cooperation, and shared values.

"We do not view the recent episode of tension as temporary in bilateral relations; we see this as a defining moment in US relations with both countries. If the fundamental building blocks of the relationship are not reciprocated, we urge you to consider further steps to limit these relationships with these two countries," the senators appealed.

They wrote to Biden to express their sincere concern about the deteriorating situation in northern Kosovo, where, as they said, recent violence by Serbs against NATO forces, i.e., KFOR, had resulted in injuries to nearly 40 peacekeeping personnel, according to reports.

"We are alarmed by the decisions made by both the Kosovo and Serbian governments following these attacks, which continue to escalate tensions instead of de-escalating them. We are particularly concerned about the ongoing security and welfare of nearly 600 US KFOR contingent personnel. While we appreciate the diplomatic efforts of the US to de-escalate the crisis, Kosovo has not reciprocated these efforts. As a result, we are prepared to consider changing congressional support," the senators conveyed.

They reminded that the US has a long history in the Western Balkans region, expressing pride in the US role in Kosovo's independence in 2008 and the concrete steps taken to build relations with Serbia.

"There is a dual commitment to maintaining strong US leadership in the region while providing the opportunity for our diplomatic capital to be effective in resolving outstanding issues between the two countries," the letter stated.

They also wrote that they were "shocked" by the recent actions taken by the governments of Serbia and Kosovo, which jeopardized the prospects of normalization by making provocative decisions that threaten to undermine the chances of improving bilateral relations.

As they added, that includes the recent arrest of three Kosovo police officers by Serbian authorities on June 14, the decision of Serbs in Kosovo to boycott local municipal elections, and the actions of the Kosovo government to forcefully enter municipal buildings, emphasizing that all of these developments have resulted in a dramatic escalation of tensions and violence that now threatens the fragile peace in the region.