The American envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on Wednesday that the United States supports Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations and will commit to making this a reality, while underlining the importance of the Kosovo-Serbia talks for the normalization of relations between them.

He made these comments during a visit to Pristina, where he met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

Mr. Escobar said that the purpose of his visit to Kosovo is to deepen cooperation with a very close friend of the United States.

“It is a friendship and partnership that is based not only on common interest, but on common values, and in this regard, I would like to express to the president the continued American support for Kosovo’s Euro-Atlantic aspiration. I thank them for their solidarity at the time of crisis in Europe and the need to look for ways to deepen this partnership, including our support for the inclusion of Kosovo in the dialogue facilitated by the European Union”, he said in a statement to the media, together with the president Vjosa Osmani.

Mr. Escobar emphasized the importance of the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia for reaching an agreement for the normalization of relations.

“We also discussed the issue of relations with Serbia, the regional impacts of this dialogue, the importance of continuing American support for your independence, sovereignty and security, and the importance of aligning yourself with European values ​​at this very important time of crisis on the European continent.” said Mr. Escobar.

The leaders of Kosovo’s institutions emphasized, as they said, their commitment to the dialogue with Serbia and the normalization of relations.

“I reiterated that Kosovo is and has always been a constructive party in this process and is also ready to increase its engagement and readiness in order to intensify the dialogue process. I also used the opportunity to express our concern and displeasure for the non-implementation of the agreements signed by Serbia, including, in particular, their continued refusal to dismantle the illegal and criminal structures that continue to threaten and intimidate the Serbs. Kosovo and are led by individuals sanctioned by the government of the United States of America”, said the President of Kosovo, Vjosa Osmani.

“Through the readiness for meetings, the will for agreements and the concrete proposals we give, the Republic of Kosovo has shown itself to be a constructive and creative party in the dialogue process. We are ready and committed to reaching a legally binding agreement for full normalization of relations with mutual recognition at the center. We always welcome the interest and commitment of the USA in this process”, said the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti.

The visit of the American envoy is happening at a time when there are rumors about an increase in the pace of the Kosovo-Serbia talks process after a Franco-German initiative for an agreement between the parties.

Although Paris and Berlin have not spoken about the initiative, the president of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, said that France and Germany have presented a document in which they demand that Serbia allow Kosovo’s membership in the United Nations, but without recognizing its independence. .

However, the Prime Minister of Kosovo Albin Kurti said that different models are being discussed, but there is nothing final or decisive that could be said that this is the Franco-German proposal.

The American ambassador in Belgrade, Christopher Hill, said that the two leaders have agreed to review the Franco-German initiative, expressing support but without talking about its details.

The European Union’s envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks, Miroslav Lajcak, said last week that Kosovo and Serbia should not waste the opportunity to reach an agreement to normalize relations between them before the elections in the United States and the European Union in 2024. .

Serbian President Vučić, meanwhile, said that he has been faced with requests for a much shorter term, even as he said, the requests are related to matters of weeks or months.