Alexander Kasanof, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Western Balkans, stated that the U.S. government is assisting Kosovo in the investigation of the terrorist attack at Ibër-Lepenc that took place last month.
The American official emphasized that such attacks, which are not only horrific but also clearly designed to destabilize the region, are strongly condemned by the U.S.
“It was a horrific attack. We have condemned it in the strongest possible terms and I want to reiterate here that we reject such attacks in the strongest possible manner. We are helping Kosovo and the Kosovo government to conduct the investigation. We have provided resources for this purpose. And we believe it is critically important that any investigation follows the facts on the ground, properly reviews all the information available, and works with international partners to ensure a credible investigation. What I can say is that such acts are not only horrific but are clearly designed to create instability, and we reject them in the strongest possible way,” Kasanof said in an interview with VOA.
When asked about the relationship between the new U.S. administration and the government of Kosovo, Kasanof stated that he did not wish to comment on this matter.
He emphasized that the current administration, even as it approaches the end of its term, remains focused on supporting Kosovo—not only in its reform efforts and its path to integration with Euro-Atlantic structures but also as it works on issues central to the EU-mediated dialogue.
“We are supporting a successful outcome and will continue to urge both the governments in Pristina and Belgrade to do everything possible to make progress in that dialogue. We will continue to assist in that direction,” concluded Kasanof.
