Ambassador Robert Wood
Alternate US Representative for Special Political Affairs
New York, New York
October 18, 2022
Thank you, Mr. President. Thank you, Special Representative Ziadeh, for your report. I would also like to thank Foreign Minister Selakovič and Foreign Minister Gervalla-Schwarz for their participation in this meeting.
I want to start by reaffirming our commitment to safeguarding stability in the Western Balkans, especially at this time of heightened tensions in Europe caused by Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. The United States will continue to work closely with our European partners to promote peaceful and prosperous multi-ethnic societies, in addition to strengthening democracy and the rule of law.
The USA reaffirms its support for Kosovo’s path to European and Euro-Atlantic integration and the European path of all Western Balkan countries.
In order to achieve a comprehensive normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, centered on mutual recognition, serious and urgent cooperation between the two sides in the dialogue mediated by the EU is necessary. I would like to praise the cooperation of EU Special Representative Lajčak with both sides. The United States will continue to work closely with him and our European partners to support the dialogue.
Through dialogue facilitated by the EU, Serbia and Kosovo adopted an energy plan and peacefully resolved issues of exit and entry documents at their borders. We hope that a similar consensus will be reached regarding the issuance and recognition of license plates. We also encourage the implementation of the steps outlined in the energy plan and a serious discussion on the possible establishment of the Association of Serb Majority Municipalities.
We cannot emphasize enough the need for stability in the Western Balkans. EU-mediated dialogue is a key part of this. We strongly encourage Serbia and Kosovo to keep tensions low by focusing on advancing dialogue and avoiding inflammatory rhetoric. We urge both sides to work with the United States and European partners to implement the agreed energy plan and avoid license plate tensions.
EU-mediated dialogue continues to be the main mechanism for coordinating issues between the two neighbors, making UNMIK’s role in the region increasingly redundant.
