Escobar: Western Balkans is an opportunity not a risk to the EU

The US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said the Western Balkans is a tremendous opportunity for the European Union and not a risk.

Together with the EU Special Representative for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, Escobar was received in Pristina by the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and President Vjosa Osmani in their first day visit to Kosovo. After the meeting with Kurti, Escobar said in a press conference that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia will bring Kosovo closer to the European Union and to the transatlantic community.

“For Kosovo and the region, we see this as an area if tremendous opportunity, tremendous energy. You are European. You are economically, historically, culturally European. We have been working with our European allies to make sure that they recognise the Western Balkans as a tremendous opportunity for them, not a risk,” said Escobar.

In that regard, he encouraged all sides to see the Western Balkans as a potential future members of the European Union. “All of them in peace with each other, all of them productive and capable members. They way we see them as bilateral partners, and the best hope for that is through the dialogue”, said Escobar.

Escobar, together with Lajcak, started a five-day visit to Kosovo and Serbia on Monday, with the aim of encouraging the leaders of both countries to continue the dialogue for the normalization of relations.

Speaking about the dialogue, Escobar said that the EU-led process, has the full support of the United States.

“The dialogue has our full support and it should be European led because it is about Europe. But, as you move into the European Union you will also continue to be a close friend of the United States because it is a transatlantic partnership, transatlantic community which you are already part and this dialogue will lead you even closer to that”, said Escobar.

Lajcak said that the joint visit shows the EU and the US are working “closely” for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia and for the future of the region. He said that the visit to Kosovo and Serbia will help them have a clear picture of what to expect in the future and how to advance this process.

The Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti, said that he is determined that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Kosovo are not violated by anyone.

“I am a Prime Minister of all citizens without distinction. Therefore I am ready to respond to all requests and needs of the citizens of Kosovo, including Serbian citizens, by applying the best current practices of Kosovo, but also of the European Union, and taking into account the practices and ways that Serbia applies, because we should not have citizens or communities that are privileged, and somewhere else discriminated”, said Kurti during the joint press conference.

Earlier on Monday, Escobar and Lajcak also met with Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani.

Osmani said that Kosovo is committed to a dialogue that focuses on mutual recognition with Serbia. According to her, an agreement on mutual recognition should not affect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional order of Kosovo.

“It is already clear that Serbia is blocking progress in dialogue through its unconstructive approach,” Osmani said, according to a statement issued by her office.

During the visit to Kosovo, the two Western officials are also expected to meet with representatives of the international community.