The Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns, entered the Government building of Kosovo for a meeting with Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, according to journalists from Radio Free Europe.
A day earlier, Burns met in Pristina with Kosovo’s President, Vjosa Osmani, and the head of the Kosovo Intelligence Agency (AKI), Petrit Ajeti.
No statements were issued by either party regarding Thursday’s meetings.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Kurti was in the United States, where, at the invitation of the National Democratic Institute, he attended the Democratic National Convention.
The visit of the CIA Director to Kosovo follows his recent visits to Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia.
In Sarajevo on August 20, Burns met with the Director of the Intelligence and Security Agency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Almir Xhuvo, and members of the Bosnian Presidency, Denis Bećirović, Željko Komšić, and Željka Cvijanović, the Serb member sanctioned by the U.S.
According to Radio Free Europe, the U.S. government stated that during the meetings in Sarajevo, “they discussed issues of mutual interest, including the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
During the visit, according to the American official, Burns also discussed the secessionist rhetoric and actions of Milorad Dodik, the pro-Russian president of the Serb entity in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska.
A day later, Dodik stated that he had “never opposed” the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina in accordance with the Dayton Agreement and that secession “has never been our policy.”
As for the visit to Belgrade, it is not known whom Burns met with.
Burns’ visit to Kosovo comes at a time when the U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, stated that his country has been challenged in several aspects by the Government of Kosovo, led by Albin Kurti.
The U.S. and other European Union countries have criticized some recent decisions and actions taken by Kurti’s Government, considering them “unilateral” and “uncoordinated.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department has called on Kurti’s Government to return to “constructive and close engagement” with Washington, the European Union, and NATO, while also urging Kosovo’s institutions not to open the bridge over the Ibar River for circulation, citing security concerns.
Although his visit to Kosovo was not confirmed, at noon on August 22, journalists from Radio Free Europe spotted a U.S. military plane parked in the “VIP” area of Pristina International Airport “Adem Jashari.”
It is believed that Burns traveled on this plane to other countries in the region as well. According to the flight tracking website Flightradar, this plane flew on August 22 from Belgrade to Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and finally Kosovo.
Burns is a former U.S. ambassador to Russia and a central figure in President Joe Biden’s administration, also serving as a member of the White House Presidential Cabinet.
He was appointed CIA Director by President Biden in January 2021.
