US Envoy Escobar will not be present in the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue meeting, EU spokesperson says

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Gazeta Express

28/09/2021 11:14

Increased tensions at Kosovo-Serbia border after Pristina’s decision to introduce reciprocity on use of vehicle plates has made Brussels to call an urgent meeting of chief negotiators aimed at defusing tensions.

The EU confirmed that they have invited chief negotiators Besnik Bislimi of Kosovo and Petar Petkovic of Serbia to meet Wednesday in Brussels. But the format of the meeting remains unclear, after the US Embassy in Pristina said that 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. EU’s lead foreign affairs spokesperson, Peter Stano, has stated that Escobar will not be present in the Dialogue meeting.

“No, Mr Escobar will not be present in the Dialogue – the Dialogue has three participants (Kosovo, Serbia and the EU) everyone else is only supporting it from outside,” Stano told Gazeta Express.

The US Embassy in Pristina told Gazeta Express on Monday that the Department of State Envoy will take part in these discussions.

“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 on Monday. /GazetaExpress/