Maliqi: O'Brien will try to stabilize hot spots in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina

Political analyst from Pristina, Shkelzen Maliqi, believes that the new Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O'Brien, will try to stabilize some of the crisis hot spots that have emerged in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Maliqi points out that O'Brien is an experienced diplomat who is well-versed in the Balkan region.

"For nearly a year and a half, the US administration has been strengthening its team in the Balkans in all aspects. Since O'Brien is an experienced diplomat who knows the region well, he will likely attempt to stabilize some of the crisis hot spots here in Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina," Maliqi said.

The dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina has stalled following recent events in Kosovo, and Maliqi is confident that O'Brien will also deal with this issue.

"He will certainly affect the dialogue; that's why he was appointed. He is experienced and has been placed there because he knows the terrain and has experienced people handling it. I assume that by the end of the year or in the spring, he will try to find a solution at least for Kosovo, and also for Bosnia," Maliqi said.

He believes that O'Brien also has strong people on the ground, such as the US ambassadors in Belgrade and Pristina, Christopher Hill and Jeffrey Hovenier, and that politicians on both sides have been obstructing progress so far.

"Kosovo already has the Ohrid Agreement, which many believe has failed, but I still think that some diplomats will not miss the fact that there is this general recognition. It remains only for the implementation to be done. Considering that there could be a slight change in the approach to the dialogue, although it is not yet certain. However, for sure, a final or pre-final agreement will develop from the existing 39 or 40 agreements," Maliqi emphasized.