Serbia, Kosovo normalize economic ties, gesture to Israel
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump announced Friday that Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to normalize economic ties as part of U.S.-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem and mutual recognition between Israel and Kosovo.
After two days of meetings with Trump administration officials, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti agreed to cooperate on a range of economic fronts to attract investment and create jobs.
“I’m pleased to announce a truly historic commitment,” Trump said in the Oval Office, standing alongside the two leaders. “Serbia and Kosovo have each committed to economic normalization.”
“After a violent and tragic history and years of failed negotiations, my administration proposed a new way of bridging the divide. By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a major breakthrough,” the president said.
Trump said Serbia has committed to open a commercial office in Jerusalem this month and move its embassy there in July.
Serbia’s decision to move its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is a nod to both Israel and the United States. The Trump administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital in late 2017 and moved the U.S. Embassy there in May 2018.
Until now, Kosovo, a predominantly Muslim country, has not recognized Israel nor has Israel recognized Kosovo.
Kosovo’s Parliament declared independence from Serbia in 2008, nine years after NATO conducted a 78-day airstrike campaign against Serbia to stop a bloody crackdown against ethnic Albanians in Kosovo.
Most Western nations have recognized Kosovo’s independence, but Serbia and its allies Russia and China have not. The ongoing deadlock has prevented full stabilization of the Balkan region after the bloody wars in the 1990s.
“These were difficult talks for us, but I’m truly satisfied,” Vucic told reporters in Washington.
He stressed the economic agreement does not include “mutual recognition” between Serbia and Kosovo.
Hoti said moving ahead with economic normalization was a “huge step forward.” He said rail links and various other major infrastructure projects discussed will bring an estimated $1.18 billion in major economic changes to Kosovo in the next three to five years.
Serbia and Kosovo earlier OK’d air, rail and transit agreements, including one that would clear the way for the first flight between Pristina and Belgrade in 21 years.