US won’t facilitate any meeting between Kosovo leaders in Berlin

Gazeta Express

05/12/2019 14:04

US Embassy in Berlin refuted media reports that the US Presidential Special Envoy on Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, is expected to facilitate a meeting between Kosovo president Hashim Thaci and Vetevendosje leader, Albin Kurti. Both Thaci and Kurti are in Berlin attending the East West Institute conference.

The US Embassy in Berlin confirmed to Gazeta Express that Ambassador Grenell is not in Berlin and he will not facilitate any meeting of the Kosovo leaders, who keep avoiding direct contacts and continue trading barbs in public over the role of president in dialogue with Serbia.

Media reported on Wednesday that the US Special Envoy, Richard Grenell, is expected to make Thaci and Kurti meet in Berlin. Kosovo media also reported that President Thaci and likely prime minister Albin Kurti avoid a direct meeting and have openly traded barbs. Vetevendosje leader Kurti is accusing president Thaci of supporting talks on partition of Kosovo, and even stated that he would take legal measures to dismiss the president after he becomes prime minister after his party – the Vetevendosje won October elections.

The two Kosovo leaders have travelled to Berlin and are expected on Thursday to be panellists of the East West Institute discussing Kosovo-Serbia dialogue. But despite media reports the US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, has not initiated any meeting between the two leaders. The Embassy confirmed to Gazeta Express that Grenell is no currently in Berlin. “Ambassador Grenell is in an official trip, therefore he will not be in Berlin neither today, nor tomorrow,” the US Embassy told Gazeta Express. /GazetaExpress/