U.S.: Doors open for continued cooperation, concrete steps demanded from Kurti

The United States has requested concrete steps from Kosovo’s caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti toward reducing tensions in order to improve relations and continue cooperation with the current government. These comments were made at the U.S. Embassy when asked whether the planned strategic dialogue—suspended by the U.S.—was part of the discussions held by Kosovo leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Koha reports.

“The United States has open doors for improving relations and continuing cooperation with the Government of Kosovo, but on the condition that the current government commits to reducing tensions,” stated the spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy in Pristina, responding to a question on whether the suspension of the planned strategic dialogue was addressed during meetings with Kosovo leaders at the margins of the UN General Assembly.

“As we have made clear to the current government, the doors are open for improving relations and resuming cooperation. However, this requires concrete steps by caretaker Prime Minister Albin Kurti to reduce tensions and advance our shared goal of strengthening peace and stability as the foundation for mutual economic prosperity. We will continue to assess the actions of the current government,” the U.S. Embassy told Koha.

Since the U.S. decision to suspend the planned strategic dialogue with Kosovo, the current government has given no indication that it will change course, as requested by Washington.

So far, none of the meetings mentioned in the government’s press releases have referred to the strategic dialogue. Meetings with representatives of the U.S. State Department have also not taken place.

Meanwhile, at a meeting with students in the U.S., Kurti said that the White House had suspended the planned strategic dialogue with Kosovo because of the closure of illegal Serbian structures in northern Kosovo, inhabited by a Serb majority.

“The reason for the suspension of the planned strategic dialogue is the rule of law in northern Kosovo, which has proven to be directed against illegal Serbian structures, and I cannot compromise on that. I cannot leave this problem to your generation. I believe it is my generation that must bring this to an end,” Kurti stated.

However, a senior U.S. State Department official told Koha a few days ago that “Kurti crossed the red line” by attempting to prevent the Serbian List from participating in the local elections on October 12, which led to the U.S. decision to suspend the planned strategic dialogue with Kosovo.