PRISTINA: CIA Director William Burns on Friday concluded a two-day visit to Kosovo during which he holds talks with Prime Minister Albin Kurti, the Kosovar government said in a statement.
During the meeting, Kurti thanked Burns for the continuous support from Washington and emphasized Kosovo’s commitment to enhancing bilateral relations, democracy, the rule of law, and Euro-Atlantic integration, calling Burns’ visit “historic.”
Earlier, on August 22, Burns met with Kosovar President Vjosa Osmani and Petrit Ajeti, the head of Kosovo’s Intelligence Agency (KIA). Osmani later highlighted on Facebook that the alliance with the United States ensures Kosovo’s security, peace, and success.
Burns’ visit follows his unannounced tour of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia, amid concerns about US-Kosovo relations and Russian influence in the Balkans. The flight-tracking website Flightradar24 reported that a US military plane, presumably used by Burns, made stops in these countries, although U.S. authorities have not officially confirmed the tour.
The visit comes in response to concerns over the partnership between the United States and Kosovo, particularly regarding the handling of issues related to Kosovo’s Serb minority. US Ambassador to Kosovo Jeffrey Hovenier recently noted that the US administration has faced challenges with Prime Minister Kurti’s government, stating that the quality of the partnership is not as strong as desired.
The US State Department has urged Kurti to engage more constructively with Washington, the European Union, and NATO.
Furthermore, the US is advising Kosovo against reopening a bridge in Mitrovica that divides the city into Albanian-majority and Serb-majority areas due to security concerns.
