8 American senators have addressed the US president, Joe Biden, with a letter, to express their concern about the tense situation in the north of Kosovo.
In this letter, the efforts of the USA to de-escalate tensions are evaluated, but according to them, these efforts have not been reciprocal, especially from Kosovo, where it is further stated that because of this approach, they are willing to change the support of the Congress.
“We are particularly concerned about the safety and well-being of the nearly 600 US troops serving in the KFOR mission. We appreciate the diplomatic commitments of the USA to de-escalate the crisis, but these commitments are not reciprocal, especially from Kosovo. As a result, we are willing to consider changing Congressional support,” the letter states.
In the letter, Biden was called upon to focus “diplomatic capital efficiently to resolve issues between the two countries.”
“We are shocked by the recent actions taken by the governments of Serbia and Kosovo to jeopardize normalization, taking provocative decisions that endanger the possibility of improving bilateral relations. This includes the recent arrest of three Kosovo police officers by Serbian authorities on June 14. The decision of the Kosovo Serbs to refuse to participate in local elections, and the actions of the Government of Kosovo to forcefully secure access to municipal facilities resulted in a dramatic escalation of tensions and violence, which now threatens the fragile peace in the region.
We call on you to exert all possible diplomatic pressure to end the current crisis and return to progress on the Ohrid Agreement. We support the EU’s proposal for Serbia and Kosovo, which includes: the withdrawal of the mayors from the facilities of the municipalities in the north of Kosovo; suspension of police operations in the vicinity of municipal buildings, accompanied by the end of protests; the announcement of new elections with the commitment of the participation of Kosovo Serbs; return to the dialogue for the implementation of the Ohrid Agreement, including the Association of Municipalities with a Serbian majority in the north of Kosovo”, says the letter posted by The Geopost.
The eight US senators have said that without “a determination to take these steps, all planned arms sales and any expansion of bilateral security relations with both countries should be suspended.”
It has also been requested that a report be provided to the Senate to confirm that “the two governments are exercising restraint to avoid any unnecessary action that would endanger the American troops who are part of KFOR”.
“We are also willing to review annual bilateral funding and authorizations for both countries, as needed,” the letter states.
