Christopher Hyland, a long-standing advocate for the Albanian cause in the United States, has stated that Serbia is obstructing the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, benefiting from the current deadlock through support from Russia and China.
Speaking after his meeting with Kosovo’s acting Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, Hyland emphasized that Kosovo should become an integral part of NATO and reaffirmed the strong relationship between Kosovo and the United States.
“I’ve always said—and I’ll say it again—that if President Trump were Prime Minister of Kosovo, he would pursue almost exactly the same foreign policy. I believe Kosovo will and must be a vital part of NATO,” Hyland stated.
He added that any current misunderstandings between Kosovo and the U.S. are only temporary.
Hyland also urged the United States to trust Kosovo’s democratic maturity and allow it space to reach an agreement with Serbia on its own terms.
“The U.S. should allow a mature democracy—specifically Kosovo—to advance as far as possible in reaching a deal with Serbia. But one thing is certain: Serbia is persistently blocking progress because it benefits greatly from the lack of it. Serbia receives rewards from the EU, Russia, China, and other actors. As long as Serbia keeps this division alive, there will be no progress, only benefits for Serbia,” Hyland concluded.
