Administrator Samantha Power and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti Hold a Press Conference

QUESTION (via translation): Question for the Prime Minister. Today is the announcement of the first solar energy auction. What are the expectations that there will be companies interested in participating in this auction? Considering that the Energy Strategy foresees that by 2031 there will be 1.2 gigawatts of renewable energy installed, how much will Kosovo achieve to fulfill these goals in the next eight years?

PRIME MINISTER KURTI (via translation): Of course, we are working to the maximum to do this as quickly as possible and it is about 1,300 megawatts until 2031, according to the Strategy, which was first approved by the government and then also by the Assembly of the Republic. And we are very optimistic that we will achieve this. 

Today we are starting – this is the first but very important step and considering both the economic progress and the democratic progress of the Republic of Kosovo, the conditions are suitable for investors to come. Let's not forget that in these two years, since we declared independence 15 years ago, we have had the biggest increase in foreign direct investments and tax revenues, but also in our exports. The development of Kosovo is, of course, attractive for foreign investments, which bring us even more investment. On this occasion, we want local entrepreneurs to reinvest their profits, but also companies from abroad to come as many as possible so that we can jointly make this energy transition that is important for our environment but also important for the economy of ours. We don't want one to leave the other behind.

QUESTION (via translation): Apologies for going a little off topic, but with all due respect, today you held a meeting with Quint Ambassadors, but Mr. Prime Minister, what was discussed in it? This meeting was held after the visit of Mr. Lajčák, who has expressed concern from his visit to the north, about the situation there, as have the representatives of the Serbian List and the Serb civil society have addressed this issue to him. How did you see this message that he is worried about the situation in the north and in the next meeting will you agree to discuss the issue of the Ibar Bridge, if it is an issue that should be opened in the process of dialogue, the actual opening of the Ibar bridge? Also, will you agree to discuss at Monday's meeting the draft Statute for the Association.

Ms. Power, how do you see the role of the European Union considering that Serbia has ignored the Ohrid Agreement, constituting a violation at the point where it is said that Kosovo should not be prevented from joining international organizations? And, we do not have a concrete reaction of the European Union against Serbia and this has raised criticism from the representatives of the institutions of the Republic of Kosovo.

PRIME MINISTER KURTI (via translation): Yesterday morning we had a meeting with the Special Representative of the European Union for the Balkans and in particular for the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Mr. Miroslav Lajčák, meanwhile, beginning of next week, on Monday, there will be a meeting of the chief negotiators there and of course we will synchronize in terms of both information and intentions. But at the same time the goal is to prepare as best as possible for a sequenced implementation guideline so that the agreement of February 27 in Brussels and the Implementation Annex of March 18 from Ohrid, which is an integral part, without conditions, without delay to be fully implemented. So the aim of the next meeting will be exactly this – negotiation for sequenced implementation.

ADMINISTRATOR POWER: Thank you so much. Let me just say that as the most senior representative of the Biden Administration to visit Kosovo, I have come, as well, to reinforce the message that others in the Administration had sent about the importance of implementation of the agreements that produce the normalization that would be incredibly important for Kosovo and for Serbia. Normalization is going to be really, really good for business. 

We had extensive discussions over the last couple of hours about the urgency of creating the ASM, as well as the urgency of full implementation of all aspects of the agreement, and we are hopeful that the parties will come to the next stage of EU mediated discussions with very specific proposals. 

The good that normalization will do for the young people of this country cannot be overstated. Then again, what I have seen on this visit is just how much dynamism there is to be unlocked in this country. The political choices that lie ahead are very difficult. That is why they lay ahead. If they were easy, they would have been choices made a long time ago. 

But on behalf of the United States and President Biden, again, I just underscore the urgency of moving forward with implementation and the importance of the Lajčák brokered discussions – we are very pleased that Lajčák was here. You see the unity between Europe and United States and we’ve also made very clear through Derek Chollet and Gabe Escobar the principles that we believe any ASM must abide by. And we are confident that with sincerity and with specifics on that issue, which in turn will help to unlock progress on a whole range of other issues, significant advances can be made in the coming days.

QUESTION (via translation): I have a question for Administrator Power. Yesterday in Gjilan, you stressed that the dialogue should end with mutual recognition between the two countries, and I want to know if you also emphasized this in Belgrade? Also, for you, Mr. Prime Minister, we did not receive an answer as to whether there will be discussions in Brussels about the decision to open the bridge over the Ibar River?

ADMINISTRATOR POWER: Thank you so much. Well, again, the United States’ focus is on implementation of the normalization framework and achieving normalization. It has always been the position of the United States that that should result in mutual recognition. That, of course, remains our position. But right now, we are bringing a particular focus to the importance of the Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities as well as the importance of Kosovo Serbs returning to institutions as quickly as possible, because that is going to be very important in terms of keeping things stable, allowing these negotiations around implementation to proceed.

PRIME MINISTER KURTI: Five sentences in the preamble, 11 articles in the basic agreement, 12 points in the implementation annex and this must be fully implemented without delay and without conditions. This is what will be discussed at the next meeting in Brussels, and it is not only you who has heard me, but also the Deputy Prime Minister Besnik Bislimi who is here in the front row. Thank you.