FLASH NEWS
Kurti: Disagreements with the US, always related to Serbia and its structures
2025-12-11 23:48:49 / KOSOVA
Kosovo's acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti said on Thursday that the country's relations with the United States are very good and that the main disagreements have always had to do with Serbia and its structures, and never with bilateral issues.
"When the United States asked us to accept refugees from Afghanistan, we immediately said 'yes', we removed the 10 percent tax, we are also accepting those whom the United States does not want on its territory, if I am not mistaken, one or two of them are here now, we have agreed to accept 50," Kurti said in an interview given to local television in Kosovo, Kanal 10.
Speaking further about potential disagreements with the US, Kurti said that there have been cases when the United States considered his stance towards Serbia to be too rigorous.
"But I cannot expect the US to have the same stance on Serbia as Kosovo. The US has recognized Serbia, it has also recognized Kosovo, they are our friends and allies. They are even our irreplaceable ally and key partner, they are also our special friend."
Asked whether the suspension of the strategic dialogue between the US and Kosovo could be avoided, Kurti insisted that relations between the two sides are very good and extend to three dimensions: development, diplomacy, and defense.
"There have never been, in terms of defense and security, better relations than now with the United States of America. We have the peak. As an independent state, we have the peak in terms of defense and security," he declared.
In September of this year, the US announced that it had indefinitely suspended the planned strategic dialogue with Kosovo, due to concerns regarding the actions of the incumbent Government.
The dialogue was planned to strengthen economic and diplomatic ties, but Kurti's actions have been seen as a challenge to progress.
Some political analysts commented at the time that the suspension was a warning that international support for Kurti and his government was fading.
In recent years, Kurti has been the target of criticism from international allies several times, due to several decisions in northern Kosovo - an area inhabited by a Serb majority - related to the replacement of Serbian license plates with Kosovo ones, the removal of the Serbian dinar from use, or the closure of Serbian institutions.
Kurti has justified these actions as steps towards extending the rule of law in the north and has said that they are in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Kosovo.
But the international community, in some cases, has described them as unilateral and uncoordinated with allies.
Strategic dialogue is a process that the US Department of State in most cases develops with various countries around the world with the aim of advancing bilateral relations.
This process involves high-level discussions between the two countries that take place either in Washington or in the respective country, on a wide range of topics such as defense, security, environment, energy, economic cooperation, etc.
The United States has allocated over $2 billion to Kosovo since 1998.
Kosovar state leaders have reiterated over the years that America is Kosovo's most important partner and that its support is vital.
Relations with Serbia
Asked about the stalemate in the high-level dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia for the normalization of relations, Kurti said that when there is no dialogue between the two countries, life does not stop in Kosovo.
"I am actively committed to the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. But when there are pauses in this process, through no fault of mine, then I deal with the normalization of the state of Kosovo," Kurti said of the dialogue facilitated by the European Union in Brussels.
He has not met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić since the attack in Zvečan Spa in September 2023.
Kurti is demanding the extradition of Milan Radoicic, who has claimed responsibility for orchestrating the attack in Banjska, from Serbian authorities. Kosovo authorities have filed an indictment against him.
Radoicic was the vice-president of the Serbian List – the largest Serb party in Kosovo – at the time of the attack and is now believed to be taking refuge in Serbia.
In addition, Kurti reiterated in the December 11 interview that he also demands the withdrawal of a letter from former Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, through which she expressed reservations about the Agreement on the path towards normalization of relations with Kosovo and its implementation Annex.
Kosovo and Serbia reached agreement on this agreement in February 2023.
Some EU officials have said that Serbia has withdrawn the letter, but there have been contradictory statements in this regard several times.
The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia has been taking place since 2011. The parties have reached several agreements, but not all of them have been implemented.
Progress in this process is key to the two countries' aspirations for membership in the European Union./ REL
Happening now...
America may withdraw from Europe, but not from SPAK
Nga Gentian Gaba
ideas
Who is the Surrel Rabbit?
Nga Sidi Hasanaj
The two wrong paths of the opposition with the Ombudsman
Nga Patrik Sadikaj
Lapaj's chair protest and the Helmeted Philosopher!
Edmond Xhini
top
Alfa recipes
TRENDING 
services
- POLICE129
- STREET POLICE126
- AMBULANCE112
- FIREFIGHTER128