Washington excludes Kosovo from NATO military exercises after renewed tensions

2023-05-31T04:42:15.588Z

Highlights: Washington excludes Kosovo from NATO military exercises after renewed tensions. More than 80 wounded, including thirty NATO soldiers and fifty Serb demonstrators. Protesters objected to Albanian mayors elected in controversial elections. But the US ambassador to Kosovo is naming Prime Minister Albin Kurti as the cause of the violence. The words of US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier are so strong that the Kosovar press speaks of sanctions. The ambassador announced on Tuesday (May 30th) the cancellation of Kosovo's participation in a NATO exercise.

The torchon burns between the United States and the government of Kosovo after the violence of May 29 in the North, which caused more than 80 wounded, including thirty NATO soldiers and fifty...

Washington excludes Kosovo from NATO military exercises after renewed tensions

The torchon burns between the United States and the government of Kosovo after the violence of May 29 in the North, which caused more than 80 wounded, including thirty NATO soldiers and fifty Serb demonstrators. The protesters objected to Albanian mayors elected in controversial elections taking office in Serb-majority municipalities. But the US ambassador to Kosovo is naming Prime Minister Albin Kurti.

NATO peacekeepers stand in front of a municipal building after clashes, in Zvecan, May 30, 2023. © Dejan Simicevic / AP

Text by: RFI Follow

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With our correspondent in the region, Laurent Rouy

The words of US Ambassador Jeffrey Hovenier are so strong that the Kosovar press speaks of sanctions. Very undiplomatic, the ambassador blames the violence on Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti, accused of having sought to create a diversion rather than respect the agreements signed.

The ambassador announced on Tuesday (May 30th) the cancellation of Kosovo's participation in a NATO exercise involving more than 20 countries and which began in April, extending until the end of June. He added that the country could lose U.S. support on the international stage.

On the contrary, the Kosovar Prime Minister defended his action on American television: for Albin Kurti, elected mayors must sit in their town halls, Kosovo is the most democratic State in the Balkans and the violence was the work of "fascist militias" sent by Belgrade.

Albin Kurti had already been criticised for his intransigence during the difficult resumption of negotiations with Serbia, he now seems ready to free himself from the diplomatic support that had carried Kosovo at arm's length on the international scene.

>> READ ALSO: Tensions in Kosovo: "Too much gap between what Pristina wants and what Belgrade wants"

Washington excludes Kosovo from NATO military exercises after renewed tensions

Washington excludes Kosovo from NATO military exercises after renewed tensions

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