Dear Friends and Supporters,

Last month Josef Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, blamed Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti for failing “to start a credible process for the establishment of the Association of Serb Municipalities” and for insisting on “formalizing the de facto recognition of Kosova.”

But ever since Serbia attacked the Kosova police in northern Kosova on September 24, resulting in the murder of Kosova police officer Afrim Bunjaku, the international community has begun to realize that Serbia’s plan to destabilize the Western Balkans is very clear and that the Kosova’s government has been taking the appropriate position all along to preserve Kosova’s independence.

Kosova President Vjosa Osmani said in advance of her meeting on October 5 and 6 with the Third Summit of the European Political Community in Granada, Spain, that if there are no sanctions carried out against the leadership of Serbia after its attack of aggression on northern Kosova on September 24, “they will be emboldened and encouraged to use violence after violence, not just on Kosova, but also on the rest of the region.”

Alicia Kearns, United Kingdom MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, issued a statement in which she said that Milan Radoicic, former deputy leader of the Serbian list (who claimed responsibility for the September 24th attack on the Kosova police in Banjska, near Zvecan) remains free in Kosova and that there are “still no repercussions for Belgrade” for the murder of Afrim Bunjaku from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Europe.  Meanwhile, she noted that Kosova remains under EU sanctions.

It has been well established that US leadership is critical to resolving the Balkan conflict. Attached please find the letter to US President Joe Biden by Agim Alickaj, MRSc, explaining why “the survival of Kosova and the Albanian people depends directly on the full commitment of the United States.” 

Also attached is the article by Washington correspondent Michael Hernandez for Andalou Agency, entitled “Serbia has started to withdraw forces from Kosovo border, US says.”  Please click here

The Hernandez article presents the statement by US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby that “Serbia’s withdrawal will help de-escalate the tensions.”   In other words, this is the first time that the United States is recognizing that Serbia must recognize its responsibility for the ongoing conflict.

All the best,

Shirley Cloyes DioGuardi             Joe DioGuardi
Balkan Affairs Adviser                   President