WASHINGTON/LONDON/BRUSSELS – The chairmen of the parliamentary foreign affairs committees of the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and eight other countries, as well as dozens of MPs and MEPs, have sent joint letters to the High Representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and British Foreign Secretary James Cleverly urged them to reconsider their countries’ collective approach to Kosovo-Serbia relations.
The signatories called for balance and proportionality in relations with Kosovo and Serbia. Noting that Kosovo faced significant repercussions following efforts by mayors to enter their offices in northern Kosovo in May, they said the lack of pressure on Serbia following the arbitrary detention of three Kosovo police officers and the failure to hold those responsible for these actions against KFOR to account, “highlights the current lack of impartiality in the fight against these hot spots.”
The letter states that the current approach towards Kosovo and Serbia is not working and asks the international community not to accept a “Belgrade-centric policy for the Balkans”.
“We also ask you to consider adopting a policy of deterrence diplomacy to avoid a further worsening of the security and political situation in northern Kosovo, with balance and proportionality guiding all statements and all punishments or sanctions imposed and that those who respect the rule, law and democracy are not reprimanded,” concludes the letter.
Among the signatories are Alicia Kearns, chair of the British Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Bob Menendez, chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Michael Roth, chairman of the German Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, and their counterparts of the Czech Republic. , Ukraine, Ireland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Iceland. An additional 41 MPs from several countries and members of the European Parliament signed the letter.
