The new U.S. envoy for the Western Balkans, Alexander Kasanof, who will also oversee the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue process, stated in an interview with the Serbian newspaper “Kurir” that one of the reasons for his visit to the region is to prevent any potential conflict and to find a way to move forward regarding normalization between Kosovo and Serbia.
Kasanof acknowledged the difficult situation between Kosovo and Serbia but emphasized that work must continue to achieve progress.
“It is extremely important for us to find a way to move forward in this dialogue, so that we can advance towards progress and peace, in terms of calm and normalcy between Kosovo and Serbia,” Kasanof said.
Regarding Bosnia and Kosovo as two hotspots in the region, Kasanof noted that this is precisely why he is visiting the area. The American diplomat expressed that, unfortunately, history teaches us that conflicts can escalate despite efforts to prevent them.
“However, this is part of the reason for my visit to this region, which is why I am speaking with the governments of Sarajevo, Belgrade, and Pristina, which is my next stop. The goal is to work together, to prevent the possibility of conflict, and to truly benefit from this moment, to turn the page on the negative episodes from the past and prevent the conflict from spreading,” Kasanof stated.
