How Congresswoman Tenney justifies the proposal for the US to halt aid to Kosovo until all commitments are fulfilled

The US Congresswoman Claudia Tenney, in the proposed legislation she introduced to the House of Representatives, calling for the US to halt aid to Kosovo until all commitments are fulfilled, has detailed how Pristina has been violating the Brussels Agreement and the rights of the Serbs for years, contributing to the destabilization of the region and increased tensions, yet it still receives significant support from Washington.

The legislation reminds that in 2013, the European Union mediated in the talks between Kosovo and Serbia for the normalization of relations, and the Brussels Agreement requires the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities to ensure the rights of Kosovo Serbs. It also requires a single police force for the entire Kosovo, with 10 regional commanders in areas with a Serb majority, who will be Kosovo Serbs elected from a list provided by the municipality. Kosovo Serbs are also required to form the majority of certain judicial panels in areas with a Serb majority.

It notes that after a decade, Kosovo has still not created the CSM, violating the Brussels Agreement.

The legislation adds that the Serbs, frustrated by the lack of progress in establishing the CSM, protested during the local elections in April 2023 when voter turnout in municipalities with a Serb majority was only 3.39%, and the majority of voters were Kosovo Albanians.

Despite insufficient turnout, mayors - Kosovo Albanians, were appointed by special police, violating the Brussels Agreement, the document states.

The proposed legislation also points out that the US has provided Kosovo with over two billion dollars in aid since 1999, while Kosovo has discriminated against the Serbs multiple times, despite the words of the US Ambassador to Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier, that this aid is meant "to ensure that all citizens of Kosovo have access to effective and accountable services of institutions, to be empowered to demand accountability for these services, and to progress through strong economic and democratic opportunities".

It is emphasized that the discrimination carried out by Pristina includes the confiscation of cars with Serbian license plates, the removal of clothing with Serbian inscriptions from the Serbs, harassment of the Serbs by Kosovo Security Forces, prejudice against the Serbs in public service, and the job market, denial of fair public trials and prolonged pretrial detention, as well as non-enforcement of court decisions in favor of the Serbs, especially in property disputes.

It is also noted that civil society organizations of Kosovo Serbs have expressed concern about the criminalization of "expressing political views, which is a universal human right guaranteed by international conventions, as well as the constitution and laws of Kosovo".

"The refusal of Kosovo to support the 2013 Brussels Agreement contributes to the destabilization of the region and increased tensions in the Balkans", the proposed legislation states.

Therefore, by adopting this proposal, Congress should demonstrate that it considers the actions of the Government of Kosovo and Prime Minister Albin Kurti to be a violation of international conventions, Kosovo laws, a violation of the 2013 Brussels Agreement, and contrary to the ideals of the United States, such as the rule of law, democracy, self-determination, and minority rights.

"Kosovo's actions undermine global efforts to achieve peace and stability in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. The destabilization of the Balkans by Kosovo could lead to a regional war, and the United States rejects these undemocratic actions that suppress human rights and political freedoms. The United States policy is not to support the Government of Kosovo due to its failure to implement and adhere to the 2013 Brussels Agreement; ethnic discrimination against the Serbs through unequal treatment in the judicial system and lack of access to the job market, thus violating international law, as well as the confiscation or appropriation of private property of the Serbs and repression of the human right to freedom of speech and the right to express political views", the proposed legislation states.

Therefore, according to Tenney, regardless of any other legal provision, no aid from the United States should be granted or otherwise made available to the Government of Kosovo until the conditions are fulfilled.

"The Government of Kosovo needs to fulfill the conditions – which are – to implement the 2013 Brussels Agreement, including the establishment of the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, to remove the Special Police from northern Kosovo, to hold new elections for mayors in northern Kosovo, to stop the usurpation of private property of the Serbs, such as cars and clothing, and to respect the freedom of political expression for all ethnic groups in Kosovo", it states.

It is also added that starting from the first report submitted in accordance with the Foreign Assistance Act, after the adoption of this law, the Secretary of State of the United States should include in each report a section describing the nature and extent of discrimination and harassment faced by Kosovo Serbs by the Government and police forces of Kosovo and the progress the Government of Kosovo has made in fulfilling the specified requirements.