The U.S. Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, stated in an interview with Radio Free Europe that there is a real risk associated with opening the bridge in Mitrovica at this time, which could impact the safety of NATO soldiers, including American ones.
“We believe that this risk increases the threat, the possibility of violence, and other problems, both for the local community and for NATO soldiers, including American soldiers who are working to ensure peace and security in Kosovo. We take very seriously any action that could affect the safety and protection of American soldiers working to support Kosovo,” said the American ambassador.
“Our hope is that the Government will listen to this and take these concerns into consideration,” he added.
The Government of Kosovo has stated that it intends to open the bridge over the Ibër River for vehicle traffic, which divides South Mitrovica, with a majority Albanian population, from North Mitrovica, with a majority Serbian population. Despite opposition from QUINT countries and NATO, Kosovo’s Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has said that the bridge should be opened and that “it is not against anyone.”
The warning about the bridge’s opening came after Kosovo authorities closed the offices of the Serbian Post in the north on August 5th, an action seen by Kosovo’s allies as “uncoordinated and unilateral.”
Hovenier said that the U.S. has been challenged by the Prime Minister and his Government in several aspects.
“I must say that the quality of our partnership is not what we would hope for in some of these issues related to how he handles the north and how he manages the dialogue.”
He added that the uncoordinated actions of the Government in the north diminish U.S. enthusiasm for supporting Kosovo on its Euro-Atlantic path.
“Please, do not take this action now”
Let me start with the latest developments. Why is it not the right time to open the bridge in Mitrovica, which both Kosovo and Serbia agreed on in Brussels?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I’m really glad you asked this question because I think this issue has been misunderstood. The United States strongly believes that it is not the time to reopen the bridge for vehicle traffic. Let me clarify something.
We believe that the bridge will eventually need to be opened for vehicle traffic, and this, as you mentioned, was part of the EU-facilitated dialogue. An agreement was reached, but we have asked the Government not to proceed with this issue at this time, and this request has not only come from the United States. My QUINT colleagues were with me in a meeting with the Prime Minister (of Kosovo, Albin Kurti) about this issue.
The reason we are asking for this is that we believe there is a real risk associated with such an action now, and we believe that this risk increases the potential threat of violence and other problems, both for the local community and for NATO soldiers, including American soldiers, who are working to provide peace and security in Kosovo. And we take very seriously actions that could impact the safety of American soldiers working to support Kosovo.
So, our request to the Government – and we have been having this conversation for several months – is: please, do not take this action now. Work with us. We want to help create conditions where such a thing can be done, but we do not believe it is the time now.
But who could cause the violence?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I can’t speak to who might cause the violence. I only know that we have assessed that there could be violence and that it is real, and the question of who might be responsible for it, which is a very reasonable question, does not negate the fact that there could be violence and a real risk to the local community and NATO soldiers.
The United States is not interested in having American soldiers face additional risk over this issue at this time.
In your response to the closure of the Serbian Post Office, you said that Kosovo’s uncoordinated actions endanger the citizens of Kosovo and KFOR soldiers. But, in this case, we know that KFOR has a permanent presence at the bridge, and KFOR also believes that this issue should be discussed in the Brussels dialogue. Could this issue at some point bring KFOR into conflict with Kosovo authorities?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I cannot speak to how Kosovo would react in such a situation. I can say that KFOR has been quite clear that they take this issue seriously as well.
KFOR shares the same risk assessment that the United States has regarding this issue, and we have made it clear to the Kosovo authorities that opening the bridge for vehicle traffic at this time would increase the risk for soldiers, which is why KFOR has also been very, very clear in expressing the view that this should only be done in a way that mitigates that risk. However, we do not believe that the current plans take that risk into account.
“KFOR will respond to any threat that would increase instability in the region”
Could KFOR refuse to leave the bridge?
Jeffrey Hovenier: That is for KFOR to decide. KFOR has made a series of public statements that it is ready to fulfill its duties to ensure a calm and secure environment and to enable freedom of movement in the country, but it has also issued statements clarifying that it will respond to any threat that would increase instability in the region.
Despite this stance from QUINT, the United States, and NATO, Prime Minister Kurti insists that the bridge must be opened and that this is not against anyone. In recent days, we have also seen work being done on the bridge, testing, and talks with the local population, although very few Serbs have participated in them. So, it seems that Prime Minister Kurti is continuing with his plan, the one he presented at the meeting a few days ago.
Jeffrey Hovenier: I can’t speak to the Government’s intentions. I know that the Prime Minister has told me that he wants to do things in coordination with the international community, and he has said this publicly. The message from the international community to the Prime Minister is very clear that now, at this moment, we do not support changing the status of the bridge. And the reason we do not support it is because we believe there is the potential for increased tensions and violence, which increases the risk for soldiers and local communities, including American soldiers. That has been the nature of our conversation.
Our hope, our requests have been sincere and measured, but clear: we hope that the Government will take into consideration the requests of the United States for something that we believe directly impacts the safety of our soldiers and NATO soldiers working in Kosovo. We hope the Government listens to this request and takes these concerns into account.
And if they don’t take it into account? How will the United States react?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I don’t get into hypothetical situations. Kosovo says it is our partner and friend. Kosovo tells us it is the most pro-American country in the world, so I would hope that the most pro-American country in the world would listen to the specific requests of the U.S. Government not to endanger NATO soldiers, including American ones.
But right after the meeting with QUINT, the Prime Minister’s office issued a statement saying that the bridge must be opened, and we have also seen all the work being done on the bridge. So, they are continuing with their plan…
Jeffrey Hovenier: I can only say that we also issued statements after the meeting where we expressed our views, that we are concerned about this action at this time. Again, in the long term, the United States agrees, and I think our European partners also agree, that the bridge should be opened for vehicle traffic. This agreement was reached in the dialogue. The question is: how and under what circumstances? We do not believe that the conditions are suitable right now.
The reason we do not believe that the conditions are suitable at this moment is due to our assessment, which we have consistently shared with the Kosovo authorities, that this action increases the risk and threat to the local population and NATO soldiers, including American soldiers.
“We have been challenged by the Prime Minister and his Government”
Why is this bridge so important when it is known that other bridges, just a few meters away, are open for pedestrians and vehicle traffic?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I think this is a question you should ask the Government of Kosovo. I don’t have a good answer for that.
Do you still consider Prime Minister Kurti your partner? Does he consider you a partner?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I can’t speak to how he considers us. I can only say that from the perspective of the U.S. Government, we have been challenged by the Prime Minister and his Government in several ways.
In some matters, we have a good and close partnership. We have worked together on some important things to improve Kosovo’s economy and have tried to help the country create an economic system that offers better welfare. We have made genuine progress with the Kosovo state authorities to help the relatively new government institutions become more efficient in their work and provide better services to citizens, especially in the field of rule of law.
But on these issues, I must say that we have been challenged by the Prime Minister and his Government, and I must say that the quality of our partnership is not what we would hope it would be on some of these issues related to how the northern issue and the dialogue are being handled.
I’m not the only one saying this. Recently, one of our Under Secretaries of State was here, who spoke about our need and hope for better coordination and cooperation. Jim O’Brien, our Assistant Secretary for Europe, has publicly spoken about this.
We had an extraordinary moment, and I will take some time to read part of the statement, when just last week, after the uncoordinated actions against the Post offices in the north, the State Department spokesperson said: “We are concerned about the continued uncoordinated decisions of Kosovo’s leadership. We believe they endanger the opportunities we have helped Kosovo create. If you look, since Kosovo’s independence, the United States has strongly supported its full integration into the international community as a sovereign and multi-ethnic democracy, but to realize this vision, which is a vision we share, we have cooperated with successive political leaders of Kosovo on measures that strengthen peace and prosperity in the country, advancing Kosovo on its Euro-Atlantic journey. We urge this Government of Kosovo to return – which suggests that we are not there now – to a close and constructive engagement with the United States, with the EU, with NATO, and with Kosovo’s other international partners.”
“I am concerned about where this is heading…”
How long will you wait for Kosovo to return? How long, allow me to say, will you tolerate being challenged?
Jeffrey Hovenier: You know, Kosovo is a sovereign state, and we recognize it as such. So, I don’t know if it’s a matter of tolerance. I think it’s more about the quality of our partnership. We have doubts about how committed this Government is to partnership with us.
When we speak to a Government about things they could do that increase the risk to our soldiers, and we are not convinced we are getting an effective response, this impacts our view of the extent to which this Government is taking our concerns into account, how committed this Government is to the partnership we want to have.
Are you considering any consequences?
Jeffrey Hovenier: Look, I’m concerned about where this is heading. I mean, in the long term, the United States wants to see, and the people of Kosovo want to see Kosovo progressing towards European and Euro-Atlantic structures. We want to see Kosovo in the Council of Europe. We want to see Kosovo in the EU. We want to see it in NATO.
The way to achieve this is by working together with us, with our European partners, with EU leaders, with NATO leaders. But just as an example, as recently as last week, with this uncoordinated action against the Post, you saw how the EU, the US, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, all raised their concerns. I’m worried that such actions reduce the appetite and diminish the commitment—not the commitment, but the enthusiasm—to support Kosovo on its journey.
Kosovo has already lost a significant opportunity for membership in the Council of Europe by not responding to the requests of our European partners, who can choose the conditions they expected Kosovo to meet for membership in the Council of Europe.
I am very concerned that Kosovo’s path to the European Union, its request, the current application for membership status, the effective and full implementation of the Stabilization-Association Agreement, which is beneficial to Kosovo, I am very worried that there will be a negative impact. Last week, my German colleague spoke about how the membership path itself could be shelved or frozen.
The EU is talking about additional measures. I sincerely hope there won’t be additional measures, but this largely depends on the Government of Kosovo and the extent to which it will stop these kinds of actions, which we have continuously warned about, and will start acting in partnership with us and with our European partners, as we have continuously asked it to do.
We agree this is difficult. We agree there are difficult things on the agenda, but we also believe we have a system and a process to help advance Kosovo, which requires such cooperation.
Are the United States lobbying for Kosovo’s membership in various organizations, or is this issue on hold?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I haven’t seen much enthusiasm in support of the Government’s efforts right now for new memberships in international organizations. We made genuine efforts for the Council of Europe, but then Kosovo did not show the willingness to take the step that its European partners and we asked it to take, which was to send the draft statute for the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities to the Constitutional Court for review of its constitutionality.
This hasn’t happened yet.
Jeffrey Hovenier: It hasn’t happened yet, and the fact that it hasn’t happened, I must say, has diminished the American government’s enthusiasm for continuing these efforts, as long as Kosovo does not even take this, from our perspective, quite small and preliminary step in this process.
What will happen if the draft statute is not sent to the Constitutional Court?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I mean, this is a choice for the Government of Kosovo, but this means that, I think many of these processes are likely to stall. This is a matter of realpolitik.
If you want to join NATO, if you want to join the European Union, if you want to join the Council of Europe, you need the support of countries that are already members, and we face the challenge of some countries in those institutions that do not recognize Kosovo as we do, as a sovereign and independent state, and they have made it clear that their support will depend on progress in dialogue and wanting to see Kosovo and Serbia reposition their relations.
From our perspective, the Government of Kosovo has not engaged constructively in dialogue in certain ways. But, I can say the same for Serbia. We have spoken about the necessity for both countries to work much harder to fulfill all their obligations.
But, since I earn my living in Kosovo, and since personally I and my government institutionally, very much want to see Kosovo progressing on this journey and taking its place in European structures, we hope to see this Government, instead of trying to take actions that make it difficult for us to advocate effectively, giving us good arguments in favor of Kosovo’s membership. This has not happened yet.
“The situation in the north is different than it was two or three years ago, but…”
Let’s return to the Government’s actions in the north. Over the past two years, the international community has reacted many times to the actions taken by the Government of Kosovo. But the Government says it has succeeded, it has managed to establish order and law. Do you believe there is more order and law in the north than two or three years ago?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I would say that the situation in the north is different than it was two or three years ago. But, if you want to integrate a region, you integrate both the region and the people, and what I have seen recently is a lack of integration of the population in the north and an absolute, incomplete effort to attract, to encourage, to include them.
Let’s just take the example of the meeting about the bridge. There were very few people there. Those who were there, who were citizens of the north, as I understand it, most were not in favor of opening the bridge for vehicular traffic.
“Kurti plans to participate in the Democratic National Convention at the invitation of the National Democratic Institute”
And they talked about other issues they are facing and not about the bridge.
Jeffrey Hovenier: Exactly, and they are very concerned. Therefore, we hope that this Government, which absolutely expresses the right words that it is a Government for all the citizens of Kosovo, will act in accordance with this and find ways to show people that they too should be integrated into Kosovo, that there are real benefits from integration, and that this Government is responsive to their concerns.
I haven’t met many representatives of the Serbian ethnic community lately, who believe that the Kurti Government is making successful efforts to show sensitivity and concern about the issues that are on the minds of the Serbian ethnic community in Kosovo.
You mentioned that you have had challenges with this Government. But, yesterday, we saw reports in the media that Prime Minister Kurti might attend the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Can you confirm this?
Jeffrey Hovenier: As far as I know, Prime Minister Kurti plans to participate in the Democratic National Convention at the invitation of the National Democratic Institute (NDI). But, to be clear, this is not an invitation from the US Government.
The Democratic Party is a political party in the United States. NDI is the arm of the Democratic Party that works on building democratic parties and institutions abroad.
So, the Prime Minister has been invited by NDI, I believe in his capacity as the leader of one of the parties in Kosovo, just as NDI has invited the leaders of other parties in Kosovo. But this is not an invitation from the US Government.
In the end, I would like to ask you a few questions about Banjskë. We are approaching the first anniversary of Banjskë. The main organizer, Milan Radoiçiq, is still at large, reportedly in Serbia. How long will the United States wait for Serbia to arrest Radoiçiq and for him to face charges?
Jeffrey Hovenier: I think the United States has been quite clear about our expectations that everyone involved in that horrific crime be held accountable. We have said this publicly. And, of course, part of our diplomacy with Serbia has included our expectations that Mr. Radoiçiq and other perpetrators of this criminal act be held responsible. This continues to be part of our conversation, and we hope to see it happen soon. I would like to emphasize that, in my opinion, Kosovo can assist in this matter.
As far as I know, and Serbian officials have mentioned this, they have made an official request through official channels for mutual legal assistance to obtain the evidence needed to prosecute Mr. Radoiçiq, which is in the possession of the Kosovar authorities. Again, on a political basis, I would hope that the Government of Kosovo responds to this request, because you want to ensure that there is prosecution and that Mr. Radoiçiq, as well as others involved, are held accountable for their criminal actions.
Are there any results from the investigations? Former Assistant Secretary of State, Escobar, mentioned that the attack might have had financial and organizational links to the Serbian state.
Jeffrey Hovenier: I have nothing to add on that.
Do you think that the lack of accountability for Banjskë fuels the narrative that the West is appeasing Serbia by taking a softer stance due to geopolitical interests, to keep Serbia aligned with the West rather than with Moscow?
Jeffrey Hovenier: You know, I think the United States has been quite clear that we expect Kosovo and Serbia to meet certain standards. And, I think we have been – again, I work in Kosovo for my livelihood – so all I can say is that I believe the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade is quite engaged in efforts to ensure that Serbia meets the commitments it has made. And, this includes ensuring that Mr. Radoiçiq and other perpetrators of the crime are held accountable. This also includes Serbia adhering to and fulfilling all its obligations taken in the dialogue, just as we are doing here.
