Office of the Spokesperson
The below is attributable to Spokesperson Morgan Ortagus:
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with Kosovo President Hashim Thaci in Washington. Secretary Pompeo reaffirmed the strong partnership between the United States and Kosovo, rooted in continued commitment to shared values and our support for a sovereign, independent Kosovo. The Secretary encouraged Kosovo to build on the momentum of the recent letters of intent to establish air, rail, and highway links between Pristina and Belgrade. The Secretary also noted he expects Kosovo to drop the tariffs on Serbian imports to fully maximize the economic and commercial benefits to people in both countries, an essential step to reviving negotiations on a comprehensive normalization of relations.
The Secretary congratulated Kosovo on successful democratic elections and government formation, reinforcing the importance of the rule of law and economic growth to ensure Kosovo’s future prosperity. The Secretary reiterated continued U.S. support for the Kosovo Specialist Chambers, which does essential work to deliver justice for victims and strengthen the rule of law in Kosovo.