Grenell: US supports EU-facilitated meetings in Brussels; EU to liberalise visas for Kosovo

Gazeta Express

07/07/2020 22:10

US special envoy on dialogue, Richard Grenell, in an exclusive statement to Gazeta Express has commented the initiative of the European Union to resume Kosovo-Serbia dialogue.

Grenell says the Europeans initiative has the full support of the United States and he is pleased to see the Europeans will convene meeting on 12 July in Brussels for further discussions with Kosovo and Serbia. The US presidential envoy hopes the important issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo will be completed at this meeting.

“We are pleased to see the Europeans will convene meetings on July 10 and 12 for further discussions with Kosovo and Serbia. We offer our total support and are grateful for their leadership. We hope the important issue of visa liberalization for Kosovo will be completed at this meeting,” Grenell told Gazeta Express.

The EU has announced that Kosovo prime minister Avdullah Hoti and Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic are set to meet on Sunday in Brussels as part of EU efforts to resume EU-facilitated talks. The Brussels meeting will precede a Summit in Paris on 10 July between Kosovo and Serbia hosted by French president Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Grenell speaking to Gazeta Express says the US has worked hard to emphasize economic normalization between Kosovo and Serbia is the first step for this long-term political dispute. “And we hope the Europeans will make implementing the air, rail and motor agreements previously agreed upon a top priority. We believe these agreements are key to creating jobs and giving hope to young people in the region,” Grenell said.

Grenell told Gazeta Express that the US has never believed in a quick election year deal between Kosovo and Serbia. “And we never thought our sole focus on economic normalization would be a quick fix. The difficult and long-term political issues will be easier to confront once progress is made on the economic issues first. The international community must keep trying new and creative ideas if we are ever going to make progress. And the people of Kosovo and Serbia deserve the Europeans’ full and constant attention,” Grenell stated. /GazetaExpress/