In a statement to Radio Free Europe, the U.S. State Department expressed disappointment over the lack of progress in the recent round of talks between Kosovo and Serbia aimed at normalizing their relations.
“We expect both countries to take their commitments under the Agreement on the normalization of relations, reached earlier this year, seriously. Time is running out. We anticipate progress on their existing and previous commitments made during the dialogue, as well as those outlined in the Ohrid Agreement, which includes establishing an Association of Serb-majority municipalities,” a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told RFE.
“We will hold internal consultations and engage with our European partners to determine the next steps,” he added.
According to the spokesperson, facilitated dialogue by the EU remains the primary path forward for Kosovo and Serbia.
Kosovo’s Prime Minister Albin Kurti and Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić met in Brussels on Thursday, with mediation provided by the EU’s Chief of Foreign Policy, Josep Borrell, and the EU’s Special Envoy for the Dialogue, Miroslav Lajčák.
The meeting, focused on implementing the Basic Agreement for normalizing relations, ended without achieving any tangible results, Borrell noted.
He pointed out that Kurti was the one who rejected the EU’s proposal for simultaneous implementation of obligations arising from the agreement, while Vučić accepted it.
Borrell explained that Kurti insisted on Serbia first formally recognizing Kosovo, while Vučić pushed for the establishment of an Association of Serb-majority municipalities in Kosovo.
Borrell stated, “Kurti was not willing to move forward with initiating a credible process for establishing the Association”.
In separate press conferences, Kurti and Vučić accused each other of being responsible for the lack of progress in the meeting.
Kurti mentioned that Serbia’s insistence on the formation of the Association of Serb-majority municipalities had “become the position of the EU’s envoys”.
Vučić, on the other hand, claimed that Kurti was simply “avoiding the formation of the Association… this is the crux of the matter”.
