Kosovo and Serbia to meet this week in Brussels, US envoy takes part in these discussions

English

Gazeta Express

27/09/2021 20:57

A spokesperson of the US Embassy in Pristina confirmed to Gazeta Express that Kosovo and Serbia will send representatives to Brussels this week for discussions confirming that the US Department of State’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, will also be in Brussels to take part in these discussions.

The meeting in Brussels comes after the Kosovo Government’s decision to introduce reciprocity in vehicle plates prompting reaction of local Serbs who blocked the roads leading to border crossings with Serbia. The Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic ordered the Army to be in full combat alert, with fighter planes and helicopters flying close to the Kosovo border over the weekend.

“We are pleased both Serbia and Kosovo will send representatives to Brussels this week for discussions and encourage both parties to re-engage openly, seriously and immediately. The Department of State’s Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs, Gabriel Escobar, will travel to Brussels this week to take part in these discussions,” a spokesperson of the US Embassy in Pristina told Gazeta Express.

“As recent events highlight, differences between Kosovo and Serbia, if left unresolved, will deter foreign investment and speed brain drain, preventing the Kosovan and Serbian economies from reaching their true potential and blocking future integration into European institutions,” the US Embassy spokesperson said. The US said that they do not have a prescription for how these topics are to be addressed; this is up to the parties to discuss. /GazetaExpress/