Escobar: The association of municipalities and Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe are connected

2024-05-08 21:44:19, Kosova & Bota CNA

Escobar: The association of municipalities and Kosovo's membership in the

The US envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said on Wednesday that Kosovo and Serbia failed to meet the obligations arising from the agreement to normalize relations last year, while warning that this could cost Kosovo with failure in its efforts to joined the Council of Europe.

"I know that there are concerns among the member countries that the Association and some issues related to the Serbian minority have not been fulfilled. This is what is causing concern that Kosovo may not have the votes for membership in the Council of Europe", said Mr. Escobar, emphasizing that Washington's position is that Kosovo should be a full member of the European Union, NATO -s and the United Nations and the United States will continue to work on this.

"Regarding European integration, I think it is important for Kosovo to listen to its European partners and work with European partners, as we strengthen Kosovo's candidacy for all Euro-Atlantic structures", Mr. Escobar emphasized.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that he will not accept the conditionality of membership in the Council of Europe with the establishment of the Association, stressing that the normalization of relations with Serbia takes place in Brussels and not in Strasbourg.

"I think they are very connected. The first is that the Council of Europe deals with the treatment of minorities and Kosovo has made clear commitments for the treatment of minorities and this includes the Association", said Mr. Escobar, emphasizing that this commitment is part of Martti Ahtisaari's plan and the agreement of Brussels and Ohrid.

"It is difficult for us to understand why Kosovo does not fulfill its legal obligations and has not given signs that it is ready to do so," he said.

During a conversation with journalists at the end of his mandate, he blamed Kosovo and Serbia for not fulfilling the obligations arising from the Brussels and Ohrid agreement of last year in which the parties agreed to implement all applicable elements.

"For Kosovo, this means the Association of municipalities with a Serbian majority and for Serbia not to block Kosovo's path towards Euro-Atlantic integration and international organizations. Unfortunately, both sides have failed to honor this commitment, but I believe that when we return to this agreement, which includes many of the Brussels agreements, the region will be in a better position and both countries will have normalized relations, predictable and peaceful with each other", said Mr. Escobar, emphasizing that he has also discussed these issues with the European envoy for Kosovo-Serbia talks, Miroslav Lajçak, who is in Washington, including the issue of the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo. for which the parties are negotiating in Brussels.

He also emphasized that the implementation of the Ohrid agreement would mean benefits for both parties. Kosovo, he said, would benefit from new recognitions, the Partnership for Peace, candidacy for (membership) in the EU, bilateral strategic partnership dialogue with the United States and a donor conference. For Serbia, it would also be beneficial to organize a donor conference, a faster solution to Chapter 35 of the EU membership talks, as well as additional investments for both parties.

Serbia continues to oppose Kosovo's independence and although it aspires to European integration, it maintains close ties with Russia and has refused to join sanctions against Moscow over its aggression in Ukraine. Many Western diplomats are concerned that Russia may try to destabilize the Balkan region to divert attention from its aggression in Ukraine.

Mr. Escobar said that it would be a mistake to see Russia as the cause of problems in the Balkans, but underlined that Russia exploits these problems.

"By solving the problems, we would close the possibilities for Russia to interfere in the region. But they will try", he said, emphasizing that Serbia is welcome in the transatlantic family "but there are conditions for this" such as reconciliation, rule of law and peaceful relations with neighbors.

Mr. Escobar also warned about the Chinese agenda against the Euro-Atlantic community, referring to the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Serbia and Hungary.

"The countries he chose to visit are open to challenge the unity of the Euro-Atlantic community," said Mr. Escobar.

Writings about my download – misinformation

Meanwhile, Zorti Escobar said at the end of the conversation that the articles of the weekend about "his dismissal" are "disinformation" produced by "a so-called journalist".

The founder of the little-known digital platform 'Frontliner', Vedat Xhymshiti, wrote that the diplomat Escobar has left his post because of his family's financial ties with Serbian state institutions, namely Mr. Escobar's wife with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia as well as a legal contract between the Republic of Serbia and the American law office McGinnis Lochridge in 2019, where, according to Xymshit, the partner is a family member of Mr. Escobar.

"I want to say directly that everything in that report is a lie and a verifiable lie," Mr. Escobar said, stressing that the reports emerged after, he said, he contacted governments in the region to discuss the transition.

"This report came out shortly after I communicated with the government of Kosovo", said Mr. Escobar, underlining that this form of disinformation is one of the reasons why the media background in Kosovo has been criticized by independent journalists and independent organizations.

Earlier in the week, the US Department of State told VOA that US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar has not been fired, but will move in the coming weeks to another assignment in the US diplomatic service, as part of a rotation of planned for a long time./ VOA