US Envoy Grenell expects Kosovo PM Kurti drop tariffs by the end of this week

Gazeta Express

26/02/2020 16:24

US sources told Gazeta Express the special envoy Richard Grenell will not wait infinitely the Kosovo Government and Prime Minister Albin Kurti take a decision on rescinding Serbian tax. If tariffs are not revoked by the end of this week, things might escalate. No one knows exactly what happens after Friday, but one thing is sure: Kosovo-US relations will not be the same.

The US President Donald Trump’s administration is growing impatient with the Kosovo’s Government choice not to revoke tariffs. US sources told Gazeta Express that by the end of this week, Richard Grenell, Acting Head of Intelligence and special envoy on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, will assess whether or not Albin Kurti’s Government has revoked the tariffs.

“By week’s end, Richard Grenell, assesses the issue of tariffs, namely whether the tax has been revoked or not. Or, if tariffs are not revoked, he is expected to take a step excluding the US from this issue – thus considering Kurti as unserious partner for Washington,” a source said.

Gazeta Express has learned that in case the Government of Kosovo is held responsible by the Trump’s Administration of obstructing the dialogue with Serbia, then they will start applying new policies towards Kosovo in all fields of cooperation.

Gazeta Express has reported in continuity the US are reconsidering their economic and political relation with Kosovo, because of tariffs on Serbian and Bosnia-Herzegovina goods – introduced by Ramush Haradinaj’s Government in November 2018. Despite promises the new Government has not revoked the tax yet.

Kosovo’s new prime minister, Albin Kurti, has promised replacing tariffs with full reciprocity, but he keeps procrastinated this issue. Kurti’s partner in government – the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), through its first deputy prime minister, Avdullah Hoti, made it clear to Kurti that tariffs should be dropped soon, but the Prime Minister keeps insisting that “there is no need to hurry.” In fact, this is the opposite of what the US is requesting – insisting the tax issue needs to be urgently addressed.

The tariffs were introduced by Ramush Haradinaj’s Government and now has become the obstacle for resumption of dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. US Administration urged Kosovo to immediately drop the tariffs and return of Kosovo and Serbia to dialogue. /GazetaExpress/