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The former chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives, Eliot Engel, in a comment on the current situation between Kosovo and Serbia, said that he came to the conclusion that the US is softening Serbia. He adds that it is time for the Biden Administration to change its approach to Kosovo.
"I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that in the dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, Washington has tamed a semi-autocratic bully Vučić and has become a bully himself, pushing him around and intimidating the smaller, more vulnerable Kosovo," he said . .
For The Foreign Policy, Engel also spoke about the punitive measures that the US imposed on Kosovo.
"Did Washington condemn Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić for pressuring Kosovo Serbs to boycott the elections? No. Did he condemn the small group of Serbs who attacked NATO forces in Kosovo, injuring 30 peacekeepers? Mezi—condemned the violence but did not speak about the attackers. Did he condemn Serbia for inciting the ethnic Serb citizens of northern Kosovo to aggressively refuse to use the license plates of the country where they live? No. Has she condemned Serbia's actions against ethnic Albanians in southern Serbia, which, according to the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights in Serbia, constitute "ethnic cleansing through administrative means"? Again, barely, if at all," says Engel.
Emissary Gabriel Escobar was asked about Engel's comments by Republican Congressman Keith Self at a hearing of the House Foreign Relations Committee, which Engel previously chaired.
“Eliot Engel, a colleague who chaired this Committee, just wrote a commentary on Serbia and Russia and concluded that the Biden Administration is softening Serbia. Any comments from you as the Biden Administration?", was the congressman's question.
"I would say that is factually wrong. In the last 60 days, all we have done is prejudice against Serbia. We were in favor of visa liberalization for Kosovo, Kosovo's membership in the Council of Europe. We were in favor of their elections despite Serbia's objections. We recognized the election results even with 3% participation, despite Serbia's objections. We recognized the authority of the mayors, despite the opposition of Serbia. We have sanctioned their intelligence chief," said Escobar.
He said that even in the USA there are elections with low participation, but that new elections are not required.
Self asked why the US joined the EU's call for new elections in Kosovo.
"Yes [we have joined the EU call]. In fact, the Government of Kosovo itself has said that these elections are not the key to stability...".
Isn't this a sign that Kosovo is ready to work with Serbia, interrupted the congressman. Escobar agreed with this, adding that they want to push the parties in this direction.
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