Biden is asked to make the situation in Kosovo a priority

2023-06-28 11:23:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

A group of American senators asked the administration of the president of the United States, Joe Biden, to "give priority to addressing the deteriorating security situation between Kosovo and Serbia".

The letter, which contains the signatures of eight Democratic and Republican senators, encourages the president to consider military sales if the two sides do not commit to the European Union's proposal to expand the situation.

The situation in the north of Kosovo, inhabited by a majority of Serbs, has been tense since the end of May, when the Albanian mayors of the municipalities there entered the municipal facilities, despite the resistance of the local residents.

Tensions culminated in violence on May 29, when Serbian protesters clashed with soldiers of the NATO mission, KFOR. Dozens of injuries have been reported on both sides.

While Kosovo and Serbia have blamed each other for the created situation, the international community has put the responsibility mainly on Kosovo.

The European Union is asking her to hold new local elections in the north, as well as withdraw the special police from that area. From Serbia, on the other hand, it asks to ensure the unconditional participation of Serbs in possible local elections.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, has said that the elections can only be held within the legal framework of the state.

The letter from eight US senators calls on Biden to "exercise diplomatic pressure to end the current crisis".

The letter also mentions the need to implement the Ohrid Agreement, which Kosovo and Serbia reached in March, in order to normalize relations.

The senators warned of the reconsideration of the support from the Congress, if Kosovo and Serbia "fail to exercise restraint" and "work for the extension of the security situation".

They asked the Biden administration to provide a report to the US Senate on the current security situation in northern Kosovo.

"We are particularly concerned about the continued safety and well-being of the nearly 600 American troops serving in KFOR. We appreciate the diplomatic efforts of the US to calm the crisis, but these efforts are not reciprocated, especially by Kosovo." , the letter says.

The international community has taken several punitive measures against Kosovo - including excluding it from a major US-led military exercise - for ignoring demands to de-escalate the situation in the north. The EU announced the announcement of punitive measures for Kosovo this week.