The USA, concerned with the treatment of minorities in Kosovo

2024-05-21 14:15:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Nicole Chulick, said that it is important for Kosovo to cooperate with its partners to strengthen its candidacy for membership in all Euro-Atlantic institutions, as well as in Council of Europe.

Chulick made the comments in a meeting with a group of journalists at the United States Embassy in Pristina.

She repeated that the US vision for Kosovo is for it to be part of the Euro-Atlantic institutions.

"We call on Kosovo to listen to the advice of its closest partners in order to guarantee a positive result when it comes to any vote," said Chulick.

During his visit to Kosovo, Chulick met with the country's president, Vjosa Osmani, and with Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

She said that she has expressed to them some concerns of the European partners regarding the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority and the regulation of the Central Bank of Kosovo, which prohibits the use of the Serbian dinar.

"Kosovo must continue to work on these issues, address them and move forward again," said the US official.

"Knowing also the responsibilities that the Central Bank of Kosovo has, we have constantly expressed our concerns about the way of implementation [of the regulation]. We have not felt that she has taken into consideration how it will affect the communities, especially the Serbian community. Therefore, we are observing the situation and we are concerned", added Chulick.

The US Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, also present at the meeting with journalists, expressed his disappointment with yesterday's action by the Kosovo Police in the north of Kosovo, during which several Serbian financial institutions were closed.

Hovenier said that this action was not coordinated with international partners and, according to him, escalates tensions.

He asked the Government of Kosovo for constructive engagement in the dialogue facilitated by the European Union, describing it as "the right channel for solving issues related to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia". "The Government of Kosovo should engage more with the communities"

Chulick, on the other hand, added that one of the reasons why he is in Kosovo is to show US support for a democratic, prosperous and multi-ethnic Kosovo.

She emphasized that it is important for the Government to engage more actively with members of minority communities and include them in the policy-making process.

"Kosovo is home to many ethnic Serbs and they deserve to keep their families and businesses here," Chulick said.

According to her, the Government of Kosovo should work for all citizens of Kosovo, "regardless of their ethnicity or differences".

Chulick also said that the US regrets that Lista Serbe - the largest party of Serbs in Kosovo - did not participate in the April 21 vote to impeach Albanian mayors in Serb-majority municipalities in the north.

"We would like them to take advantage of the democratic tools available to them," she said.

Chulick emphasized that the US remains concerned about the treatment of minorities in Kosovo and said that it will continue to work on this issue.

According to her, one of the benefits of being part of the Council of Europe would be "greater respect for minority citizens and also access to international processes, through which Kosovo can address issues such as: inclusion of minorities and participation full in their country's government and democracy - for example through the European Court of Human Rights".

"Political opportunists may try to use international circumstances to their advantage"

Asked if they fear that nationalist leaders in the Balkans will use the international political vacuum resulting from the EU and US elections to further complicate the situation on the ground, the US State Department official said that "political opportunists can try to use the international circumstances to their advantage at any time, but we are alert to those attempts, not only here in Kosovo, but around the world".

"It is important for us to emphasize that - it is the security interests of the US and Europe - we can depend on our partners and they can depend on us, regardless of political party or movement. We will continue to contribute to a more stable, safer and more prosperous Western Balkans and we will continue to work in support of this goal," concluded Chulick./ Rel