Photo: Tanjug/Strahinja AćimovićThe State Department's special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said that Belgrade and Pristina should take steps to calm tensions in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as immediately continue the dialogue on the normalization of relations. There will be consequences if Pristina continues to ignore the demands, Escobar said
The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Gabriel Escobar, said today at an online press conference that the US will not yet comment on the arrest of Kosovo policemen without all the facts, stating that there are two scenarios of what happened: Either they were arrested on the territory of Kosovo or they unintentionally crossed the border and found themselves on the territory of Serbia.
Escobar emphasized that it is clear that the Kosovo policemen had no intention of being on the territory of Serbia and added that he calls on all parties to work with the international authorities in Kosovo to see what the facts are.
The Government of Kosovo should lift the ban on the import of goods from Serbia and the ban on the crossing of vehicles from Serbia across the administrative line with Kosovo, Escobar said.
"Escalation upon escalation creates difficult conditions for the region, not only for Serbia and Kosovo," he warned.
"The US is determined to, together with the European Union (EU), work on a three-point plan to de-escalate the situation caused by the mayor's entry into the municipal buildings in the north, and then the protests of the Serbian community." Our position, like the EU, is that we believe that mayors should work from alternative buildings, that protesters should withdraw from the streets and that proceedings should be initiated against all those involved in violent acts against KFOR and the police," Escobar repeated, adding that then there should be early elections in which Kosovo Serbs would participate.
Cooperation or consequences
Eskobar also emphasized that the word "sanctions" is inappropriate when talking about the responsibility of Serbia and Kosovo for not fulfilling their obligations, that is, for assuming responsibility for regional stability, recalling that the American ambassadors in Belgrade and Pristina use the term "consequences".
Whoever refuses the partnership will face the consequences, the American diplomat added.
Both sides feed on crises.
Escobar, when asked about the Union of Serbian Municipalities, reminded that it is a legal obligation for Pristina, accepted in the dialogue under the auspices of the EU, which means that it is not only an obligation between Kosovo and Serbia, but Kosovo and the Union.
Kosovo is not being asked to do something that is not already shaped in European requirements, to provide a series of municipal services in the Serbian language to the citizens of Kosovo who speak the Serbian language, he explained.
Escobar presented that there are elements on both sides that feed on crises, adding that Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti should define his policy not by an oppositional attitude towards Serbia, but by harmonization with the EU.
Nationalist rhetoric harms the region
There are elements in the Serbian political spectrum that want nationalist rhetoric towards Kosovo, and that harms Serbia and the region, Escobar said. He is optimistic that the implementation of the Ohrid agreement can be continued, stressing that it can help Kosovo move faster towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Escobar rejected claims that the US is not working in the interest of Kosovo, stating that everything they did in the past 90 days was in favor of Pristina.
Unnecessary escalation under emotions
Mentioning Kosovo's application to the Council of Europe, which Serbia opposed, as well as the holding of elections in the north, the recognition of the legitimacy of those elections, Escobar said that everything that Kosovo asked for had been done, and the only thing they were warned about was that the new mayors should not use the municipal buildings in the north.
It was an unnecessary escalation at a time when emotions were under tension, Escobar said, adding that the US government had left official US buildings many times, so legitimacy was not in question. There will be consequences if they continue to ignore our views on this issue, Escobar concluded.
ZS/FoNet
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