Reports between Kosovo and Serbia, progress in the dialogue between the two countries, and the need for the surrender of Milan Radoiçiq in Kosovo were among the issues discussed by U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O’Brien, with the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, on Monday in Pristina, according to the Government of Kosovo.
In a statement released to the media, the Government emphasized the necessity of signing the Basic Agreement reached between Kosovo and Serbia a year ago to ensure its respect and implementation.
The agreement for normalizing relations was reached between the two countries in February 2023 in Brussels, and the parties later agreed on an annex in Ohrid, North Macedonia, but no progress has been made towards implementation.
Regarding Radoiçiq’s extradition, the Government has stated that his surrender would serve legality, justice, peace, and security.
Radoiçiq took responsibility for organizing and executing the attack in Banjska, Zveçan, last September, in which officer Afrim Bunjaku was killed. During the exchange of gunfire, three Serbian attackers were also killed.
Kosovo blames the Serbian state for organizing the attack, but official Belgrade denies everything.
Justice authorities have filed charges in this case against Radoiçiq and dozens of others, three of whom are detained in Kosovo. Radoiçiq and the others are believed to be at large in Serbia.
O’Brien noted that there have been improvements in the security situation in the north over the past year.
However, he emphasized that after Banjska, Serbia has taken steps to withdraw its violent elements, which he stated has positively impacted the situation.
According to him, it is essential for Kosovo to instill confidence in the citizens of the north that they can have a future, stressing that this is related to “people trusting their institutions.”
“It is important for your government to instill confidence in the citizens of the north that they have a future here as individuals and as members of the Serbian community. Such trust makes everything much easier, even when we take steps towards planning, connecting, and avoiding violence. Ultimately, it’s about people believing in their institutions.”
When asked if he sees a connection between the Serbian state and Banjska, O’Brien replied, “I think we have talked a lot about this.”
“What we see is that the Serbian state has taken actions to make violence less likely, and for us, that is very important.”
He emphasized that Radoiçiq, who claimed responsibility for the Banjska attack, should be prosecuted, assuring that they have been promised this will happen.
O’Brien also discussed the Association. He stated that Kosovo must submit the Association of Serb-majority municipalities to the Constitutional Court.
“Submitting the Association to the Constitutional Court is a fundamental commitment. We do not expect this only from Prime Minister Kurti; several previous prime ministers have also done it, so we expect this from Kosovo as well,” O’Brien said.
He highlighted that the Association is a way for similar municipalities to exchange experiences and discuss how to address their issues.
“Associations are very common in Europe; as we know, there are over 400 such associations across Europe. The Association does not create another layer of governance, but rather a coordination mechanism, as we see in Northern Italy, or in the islands of Sweden, or in Belgium,” O’Brien stated on Kanal 10.
He stressed that it is time for Serbian citizens to fully live in Kosovo, thus emphasizing that it is important for Kosovo to submit the Association to the Constitutional Court, noting that “it is seen as something normal throughout Europe.”
“Everything is taking longer than it should.”
This is how the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia describes the dialogue process between Kosovo and Serbia, emphasizing that the U.S. supports this process.
He noted that Kosovo must seize this opportunity, as otherwise, according to him, it may not have that chance for a long time.
“We want both countries and all countries in the region to move forward as quickly as possible. We want borders to remain open so societies can work together in exporting goods, and for people to work and live in another country. We want the country to seize this opportunity because sometimes you have a chance, and if you don’t take it, you won’t have it for a long time,” O’Brien said.
When asked if he received any positive messages or signals from the Prime Minister regarding the dialogue during their meeting, O’Brien stated that Kurti understands that for Kosovo, it is now a unique moment, particularly mentioning the transitions in the EU and the U.S. that are expected to happen, which he believes offer a good opportunity for Kosovo.
“Kurti understands that this is a unique moment because we have all these transitions happening. The European Union will have a new commissioner, so new personnel who will oversee the integration process into the European Union, and in the U.S., we have elections, and we know there will also be a transition there,” O’Brien said.
He emphasized that it is time for Kosovo to define its vision, adding that “Kurti understands this.”
“I want them to fully implement the agreements made. We are at an interesting moment where Prime Minister Kurti, I believe, understands that there is an opportunity to say this is how we want Kosovo to look and to shape how the international community reacts,” O’Brien said.
Furthermore, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State emphasized that the economic growth of both countries can happen if they implement the Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex, stressing that “this is the only way to move forward.”
“While I think President Vučić also sees this as an opportunity to grow the economy much more than it has grown, and Serbia has had good economic growth recently, but to achieve even greater growth, there needs to be political accommodation over the coming years concerning Kosovo. The best way is through the Basic Agreement and the Ohrid Annex; this is the way to move forward,” O’Brien said.
Conversely, he noted that if there are again setbacks in the dialogue, both countries will lose what he called “tremendous opportunities” for their nations.
“I think the main sanction is that both countries have lost a tremendous opportunity for their nations,” O’Brien said.
