Leaders of Kosovo, Serbia at White House for economic talks

U.S. mediated talks Thursday between Serbia and Kosovo in hopes of rmalizing ecomic relations and possibly paving way toward resolving thorny political disputes.

Trump ministration officials met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti to discuss furring relations on ecomic front — something that would provide president with a diplomatic win ahe of vember presidential election.

Kosovo’s Parliament declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after NATO conducted a 78-day airstrike campaign against Serbia to stop a bloody crackdown against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.

Most Western nations have recognized Kosovo’s independence, but Serbia and its allies Russia and China have t. delock has kept tensions simmering and prevented full stabilization of Balkan region after bloody wars in 1990s.

ministration insisted that discussions at White House would focus only on ecomic development, but members of Serbian delegation told Serbian media that 10th point of a draft agreement was t acceptable to Serbia because it touched on mutual recognition, stating that both parties would “commit to mutual recognition and protection of ethnic mirities.”

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic, speaking in Belgre, said Vucic “in a brutal way” rejected point 10 of draft agreement on Thursday, and said it was an obvious attempt to widen talks outside ecomic issues.

Trump’s envoy Richard Grenell denied that U.S. confronted Serbian president with a demand to recognize Kosovo. “t true,” Grenell tweeted.

Trump ministration officials are working to open up avenues of ecomic development between two nations.

“ people of Kosovo and Serbia deserve ecomic rmalization and chance to create a vibrant ecomy,” Grenell tweeted before talks got underway. “Today I am focused on young people who want a career, a good job and a connection to West. I’ve heard you. And I will push hard for you. Let’s put politics aside!”

Senior ministration officials said political discussions between two nations are stuck and White House has been working for more than a year to find a way to get parties to put political issues aside and focus on ecomic development and job creation. officials spoke only on condition of anymity to brief reporters about talks.

y said Serbia and Kosovo have alrey OK’d three transportation-related agreements, including one that would clear way for first flight between Pristina and Belgre in 21 years. According to ministration officials, business leers in both nations are frustrated and have been talking among mselves outside of political talks brokered by European Union.

On Monday, Vucic and Hoti are scheduled to go to Brussels to hold talks under auspices of EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and special envoy for Belgre-Pristina dialogue Miroslav Lajcak.

EU has mediated talks between two former wartime foes for over a dece, and parallel U.S. effort, although focused on ecomic development, has t been fully embraced by some EU officials.

White House summit was originally scheduled for June, but it was cancelled after Kosovo President Hashim Thaci, who was to le Kosovo delegation, was indicted for war crimes by an international court.

Thaci encourd “Kosovo delegation to make courous steps towards peace, reconciliation and ecomic prosperity.”