The President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani, has said that Kosovo needs a strategic dialogue with the United States of America, after a meeting with the United States envoy for the Western Balkans, Alexander Kasanof, on Thursday in Pristina.

“In the meeting with Kasanof, President Osmani also discussed the possibility of deepening cooperation in various fields of mutual interest, such as the field of defense and security”, Osmani’s office said in a press release.

The United States has not been satisfied with the actions of the Kosovar authorities in the Serb-majority north this year, saying that they have affected the partnership between the two countries.

Washington has described as “unilateral” and “uncoordinated” the decisions of the Government led by Prime Minister Albin Kurti in the north regarding the ban on the Serbian dinar, the closure of parallel Serbian institutions and the plans to open the bridge over the Iber River.

Kurti constantly insists that the actions of his Government are not directed against anyone, that he follows the Constitution and laws of Kosovo and that relations with the USA are good, despite disagreements on some issues.

Kasanof is visiting Kosovo for the first time as the US envoy to the Western Balkans – after succeeding Gabriel Escobar – where he is expected to hold regular consultations with Kurti and with government officials, opposition leaders, civil society and businesses.