New US Envoy Delights Kosovo, Leaves Serbia ‘Surprised’

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said he was surprised by the US decision to appoint a special envoy for the stalled dialogue between Serbia and its former province of Kosovo - while officials from Kosovo said they were looking forward to cooperate with him.

The White House on Thursday named its top diplomatic representative in Germany, Richard Grenell, as its new special envoy for the Serbia-Kosovo talks. It comes after the US State Department named Matthew Palmer as its special representative to the Western Balkans in general on August.

"This was surprising news to us. You know we have talks and negotiations under the auspices of the European Union, and we already had in mind the [new US] special envoy [to the Western Balkans], Palmer; we have a fair relationship with him. Now, apparently, President [Donald] Trump has appointed a new man as a special envoy," Vucic responded at a press conference.

I welcome President @realDonaldTrump's decision for name Ambassador @RichardGrenell as special envoy. I look forward working with him in ensuring finality of peace in Balkans bringing Kosovo inside @NATO and EU families. https://t.co/bdhIpre1wZ

— Hashim Thaçi (@HashimThaciRKS) October 4, 2019

Vucic added that he had scheduled a telephone conversation with Grenell and described him as "a serious, responsible man, a man of Mr Trump's confidence, now we will see how and in which direction he will go".

"I repeat, we have a dialogue that is orchestrated by the EU and we do not express our dissatisfaction with the way it is," Vucic continued.

Congratulations to #US Amb. to #Germany @RichardGrenell, appointed by @POTUS as special envoy for #Kosovo - #Serbia dialogue. I look forward to...