According to reports from the Associated Press, US Deputy Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar did not lend his support to the high-ranking officials of Kosovo in their efforts to mediate negotiations between Serbia and Kosovo on the normalization of relations.

Escobar recently held a meeting with representatives from Kosovo’s governing authorities to discuss the progress of the negotiations. This meeting took place following Kosovo’s announcement of its intention to utilize ethnic Serbs within its territory as a means to manipulate and influence the decisions made by Serbian officials, including matters such as salary and allowances for employees of Serbian institutions in Kosovo.

During the meeting, Escobar emphasized that both Washington and Brussels are taking all necessary measures to steer the dialogue between Pristina and Belgrade back onto the right path. Brussels has issued warnings to both parties, emphasizing that the avoidance of negotiations carries the risk of impeding Kosovo and Serbia’s opportunities to join the European Union. Since 2008, Serbia has not recognized the independence of Kosovo.

Escobar declared that it is crucial for both sides to move forward in implementing the historical agreement. He expressed his confidence that this approach is not an attempt to coerce Kosovo into accepting specific decisions; on the contrary, it is aimed at facilitating open dialogue, ensuring adherence to the law, and fulfilling the agreements made.