International recognition of Kosovo

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Kosovo's sovereignty and independence remain crucial to the security and stability of the Western Balkans. "Following recent elections and government formation, Kosovo has a renewed opportunity to realize your full potential, both for your citizens and relationships with neighboring countries. ," the State Department said.

To date, Kosovo has been recognised by over 100 UN member states and is member of dozens of international and regional bodies. Early recognition by the United States and most European powers set it on a positive trajectory, which influenced other states to also recognise it. The more recognitions Kosovo secured, the more it created the conditions and momentum for further recognitions.

Within less than 24 hours, Kosovo's Prime Minister, Albin Kurti, has received two high-level letters calling on him to abolish the tariffs imposed on goods from Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to help restart the stalled dialogue with Serbia.

According to "Blic", Pompeo congratulated Kurti on forming a government, but also made it clear that the suspension of taxes on goods from central Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina should be a priority.

Vucic stressed that the talks will not be about a plan to resolve the Kosovo issue, as speculated in the media.
"I don't think any new plan will be discussed. No one can come up with a plan and say 'take it or leave it,'" he said.

Vucic added that in spite of this, he will not give up the fight for that solution and he is willing to participate in the process.
After talking with EU Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell, Vucic recalled that he discussed with him the missed chances and what could be done, including the proposals to reach a compromise solution.

This was stated in an interview with Radio Free Europe by Maxim Samorukov, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Carnegie Moscow Center.
As he claims, when it comes to Russia's ambitions to engage in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, "Russia has an interest in not resolving the issue, thus the statements by Russian officials about reaching a final settlement can be seen as ambiguous".

Kosovo's outgoing foreign minister, Behgjet Pacolli, has warned the Council of Europe it will refuse to cooperate with Russian senator Aleksei Kondratev if he is appointed as the rights body's Parliamentary Assembly rapporteur for talks between Belgrade and Pristina.

Reports in Kosovo say Kondratev is in line for the job, drawing swift condemnation from Pacolli via Twitter.

Vucic said in Paris last night that the initiative to remove barriers to the free movement of goods, services, capital and people between Serbia, North Macedonia and Albania is more significant than withdrawing Kosovo's recognition.

The likely leader of Kosovo's next government has made pledges on Serbia and the Kosovo Serbs that he may find hard to keep, experts say.