US Special Envoy for the Balkans Gabriel Escobar said Kosovo should postpone the end of October deadline for introducing locally registered number plates, and an agreement with Serbia could be just weeks away.
As of the start of November, all cars in the country must use Kosovo-issued license plates. But the Serb majority in the north, who do not recognise Kosovo’s independence, still have Belgrade-issued plates, and some, not all, do not want to change. The matter has been the topic of much debate and tension and has already been postponed while no compromise between the two sides has been forthcoming.
Kurti asks ethnic Serbs to register license plates, gives incentive
Meeting with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, Escobar said Kosovo should postpone the plan by ten months so as not to raise tensions.
“Kosovo has the right to implement this, but we want to implement it peacefully so that it does not raise tensions and distract us from some things we need to do.,” he said.
Escobar added.”It is no secret that we asked for a more extended implementation period and another ten months. I would like that to happen. This is not only a request of the US but of the entire Quint. We have not received an answer from the Kosovar side; we are still waiting”, said Escobar.
The Quint countries include France, who recently demanded new criteria for Kosovo visa-liberalisation in the EU despite the existing criteria already being met four years ago.
Escobar also said he supports Kosovo’s independence and said it would happen at a later stage. In the meantime, he voiced support for Kosovo’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures, including recognition by Spain, Greece, Cyprus, Romania, and Slovakia.
“It is important to align with European values in this time of crisis in Europe. I wanted to emphasise that the United States fully supports Kosovo in all its Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” he added.
Kosovo has applied to be a member of the Council of Europe, has called for accelerated membership to NATO, and said it would apply for EU membership before the end of 2022.
Escobar also said an agreement with Serbia could be on the table in weeks.
“I have heard my European colleagues say this is a matter of weeks and not years. For an agreement, for the way forward. Taking into account the context of what is happening, everyone must take responsibility to create stability, not only in Europe but also in the region”, he stated on Kanal 10.
Kurti also spoke after the meeting of his readiness to continue the dialogue, reach agreements, and push forward concrete proposals.
“Kosovo has shown itself as a constructive party in the dialogue. We are ready for and dedicated to reaching legally binding agreements for the normalisation of relations, with the bilateral recognition at its centre,” he said, according to Danas.rs.
Escobar also met with President Vjosa Osmani, who said the purpose of the meeting was to strengthen relations between the two countries.
“Kosovo remains extremely committed to doing everything it can to support our allies in defence of peace and democracy,” said Osmani, who added this has been reflected in foreign policy, in the sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine.
She also expressed concern over Serbia which has failed to align with EU and US foreign policy regarding Russia, despite repeated calls.
Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo’s independence following a bloody war in 1998-1999 which was ended by the NATO bombing of Serb forces. It also continues to threaten its neighbour, saying it will stand in the way of any attempts to join international institutions.
Serbian media has been reporting increased pressure from the West on Belgrade and that an agreement could be on the table by the end of the year.
“With the flare-up of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the Western centres are rushing to close this issue as soon as possible and, according to information from diplomatic sources, their expectations are that this will happen in a very short period of just a few weeks,” writes Novosti.
The agreement could see “Serbia not recognising Kosovo’s independence, but not opposing Kosovo’s entry into the United Nations.”
