New Trump administration's sudden involvement bewilders Kosovo ahead of elections

euronews (in English)

Former US envoy for Kosovo and Serbia, Richard Grenell, recently appointed as Trump's special envoy for special missions, criticised the Kosovo prime minister, provoking bewilderment in Kosovo right before the vote on Sunday.

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00:00As outgoing Prime Minister Albin Kurti campaigns to win a clear majority for his second mandate,

00:07harsh criticism coming from Washington threatens to undermine his political standing with voters.

00:14On Friday, Kurti told the Albanian press that Kosovo's relationship with Washington is currently at its best level ever.

00:21The former U.S. envoy for Kosovo, Richard Grenell, replied almost immediately to the PM's statements on social media.

00:29He said they were delusional and that relations have never been lower between the two countries.

00:36The former emissary or former envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, the U.S. one,

00:42we are talking about Richard Grenell who now has quite an important position in the new administration of Trump,

00:49has had a really bully approach back then.

00:52These days we have seen that surely he has interfered as well in our elections

00:57by basically stating that Kurti has been not a good partner for the United States.

01:03Unlike in Pristina where the new U.S.-Balkans diplomacy has provoked political disarray,

01:08in the Serbian part there are hopes for better relations thanks to the Trump administration.

01:13We expect that the new administration will bring new power, new blood in this process

01:21and that we'll start to make some solutions and not just to have meetings and discussions.

01:27So I can say that expectation from Serbian community in Kosovo is very high

01:34that it's going to improve their position in Kosovo.

01:39Prospects for a normalization of ties between Serbia and Albania have also dimmed recently.

01:45For decades Pristina has looked to Washington as a central pillar of its security.

01:50But Trump's unpredictability could seriously unsettle the Balkans.

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