US Envoy urges Kosovo drop tariffs, resume dialogue with Serbia

Gazeta Express

23/01/2020 8:55

U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Richard Grenell, arrived late on Wednesday in Kosovo and urged country leaders to resume dialogue with Serbia.

After meeting Kosovo president in one of restaurants of Pristina, Grenell said he wants to see progress in both Kosovo and Serbia on the economic front. “We are going to push both governments and the leaders of Kosovo and Serbia and say ‘look at the people, start moving forward with jobs,’” He said. Grenell, who is U.S. Ambassador to Germany, was appointed by Trump as the special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in October 2019.

Kosovo president Hashim Thaci after dinner with Grenell said in a Tweet that he had a fruitful meeting with the U.S. envoy to discuss the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. “Thanked him for a timely visit and determination in the process. Stressed urgency of resumption of dialogue and that the role of US President Donald Trump on reaching a final agreement is indispensable,” Thaci wrote. Grenell answer3ed Thaci’s tweet saying’ “We must make progress – which includes dropping the tariffs.”

Grenell arrived in Kosovo as part of efforts to resume dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade which was halted in November 2018 after Kosovo Government introduced tariffs on all Serbian imports as a measure to counter Serbia’s aggressive campaign against Kosovo’s statehood. Serbia has conditioned resumption of the EU-facilitated talks in Brussels with revocation of 100 percent tax on its goods. Grenell on Thursday is expected to meet also political leaders, including leaders of Vetevendosje Albin Kurti and LDK Isa Mustafa who are negotiating a deal to form new government after Kosovo held early elections in October 2019. Grenell stated on Wednesday night that he has no preferences on Kosovo coalition, but his meetings are seen in Kosovo as crucial of convincing the two biggest parties reach a deal on co-governance. After Pristina Grenell is expected to visit Belgrade as part of his efforts to boost the dialogue. Grenell was at the center of a EU-brokered deal between Kosovo and Serbia on relaunch of commercial flights between capitals of both countries after more than 20 years. /GazetaExpress/