WASHINGTON – A number of high-ranking officials from Western Balkans Six travelled to the American capital at the beginning of this week to engage in talks with the political representatives of the US and other countries on the sidelines of the NATO summit. The annual NATO summit, marking 75 years of the Alliance, is held from 9 to 11 July. Both NATO member states and partner countries will participate.
The summit will have a broad agenda, including the strengthening of the Alliance’s defence capabilities, and the confirmation of Mark Rutte as NATO’s new Secretary General. Rutte will replace Jens Stoltenberg at the helm of NATO in October. Ahead of the summit, Stoltenberg received the US Department of Defences’s Medal for distinguished public service.
Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Đurić announced on Sunday that he would represent Serbia in Washington at the Summit, stressing that Serbia was committed to cooperation with the Alliance and that it remained committed to its policy of military neutrality and safeguarding national interests.
“I am honoured to represent Serbia in Washington at a series of events during the NATO Summit week. We are committed to dialogue and cooperation while at the same time remaining firmly committed to our policy of military neutrality and national interests”, Đurić wrote on X.
Част ми је што ћу представљати Србију у Вашингтону на низу догађаја у недељи Самита НАТО.
Посвећени смо дијалогу и сарадњи док истовремено остајемо чврсто при нашој политици војне неутралности и националним интересима.
Представићу нашу политику и разговарати са представницима…
— Марко Ђурић (@markodjuric) July 7, 2024
Đurić stressed that he would present Serbia’s policy and talk to representatives of countries with which Serbia shares and with those “with whom it does not share the position on regional and international issues“.
Vjosa Osmani, the President of Kosovo, also travelled to Washington, to participate in the activity organised by the US Department of State for Women, Peace and Security, which is held within the framework of the NATO Summit.
“Kosovo’s involvement in the activity organized by Secretary (Antony) Blinken, dedicated to the Agenda for Women, Peace and Security, is a strong indicator of the growing role that Kosovo is playing in the advancement of this agenda at the global level and its commitment to the principles and values supported by NATO”, the communiqué states.
This is the first time that Kosovo is involved in an event within the NATO Summit. Last month, the NATO Parliamentary Assembly approved the advancement of Kosovo’s status from an observer member to an associate member of the Alliance.
On Monday, Osmani met with the US Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien. In a post on X, she stated that they discussed “the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue and the critical role of the U.S. in ensuring its success”.
Delighted to start our meetings in Washington D.C. with @StateEUR Jim O’Brien today.
Highlighted the paramount importance of continued cooperation with our U.S. allies in overcoming challenges and in defending our freedom, independence and democracy.
We also discussed the… pic.twitter.com/hi5foOtjEf
— Vjosa Osmani (@VjosaOsmaniPRKS) July 8, 2024
The Montenegrin Delegation to the NATO Summit is lead by the Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Filip Ivanović and Minister of Defence Dragan Krapović. Minister Krapović will meet with the US Assistant Secretary James O’Brien at the Department of State.
The Prime Ministers of Albania and North Macedonia, Edi Rama and Hristijan Mickoski, are also attending the NATO summit. According to the official agenda, Mickoski will meet with US Under Secretary John Bass.
Hristijan Mickoski had a several bilateral talks in Washington ahead of the NATO summit. However, his meeting with the former Special Envoy for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell drew particular attention.
“A fruitful and friendly dinner with Richard Grenell, an American diplomat, former director of U.S. intelligence and a good connoisseur of the situation in the Balkans”, Mickoski wrote on X.
He added that they talked about the opportunities to deepen cooperation in the domains of economy, energy and the rule of law.
The US media have recently reported that Richard Grenell hopes to be Secretary of State if Donald Trump wins the presidency in November 2024.
Плодна и пријателска вечера со Ричард Гренел, американски дипломат, поранешен директор на американската разузнавачка служба и добар познавач на состојбите на Балканот. Економија, енергетика и владеење на право, теми за продлабочување на соработката. pic.twitter.com/PIoGhhz8o9
— Христијан Мицкоски (@MickoskiHM) July 8, 2024
Meanwhile, the Greek media have reported that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is expected to raise the issue of North Macedonia and the observance of the Prespa Agreement at the NATO Summit in Washington.
“The non-use by North Macedonia’s new leadership of the country’s constitutional name, as the Prespa Agreement expressly provides for, but also the general attitude of the country’s PM and president, who have argued more than a few times that the country will be called “Macedonia” internally has provoked the strong reaction of Athens”, Ekathimerini writes.