Kosovo PM Kurti says NO to Trump’s security adviser, he warns of consequences

Gazeta Express

04/03/2020 15:06

Two days ago Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti had failed to answer a phone call from the White House. People with knowledge of the situation claim the call had come too late, but their statement on the time of the phone call are contradictory. However, the phone call completed on Tuesday did no contribute to easing the strained relations.

“Prime Minister Kurti has responded negatively to the request of National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien to lift the tariff on Serbian goods. He told O’Brien he cannot do such a thing,” said a senior US administration official with direct knowledge of the conversation.

The same official quotes O’Brien as saying to Kurti that “the US will not help Kosovo economically if the tariff remains in force. The stance is clear: If Kosovo is hurting itself economically by keeping tariffs, we will not help it, either.”

But Kurti did not change his stance despite the US position. “During the conversation Kurti was reminded of the presence of American troops in Kosovo and that also their presence is being considered,” the source said.

Sources told Gazeta Express that projects worth tens of millions of Euros that have already been planned to be implemented through Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) have been suspended. /GazetaExpress/