State Department: Request to Pristina was clear, we are disappointed

State Department spokesperson Ned Price told a press briefing that the US efforts regarding this issue are ongoing, and noted the US released a statement last week to make very clear its belief and the belief of its international partners that the government of Kosovo needs to extend the implementation period for another 10 months.

Price stressed that Kosovo has the right to implement the change under the Brussels Agreement.

“But we are disappointed and we are concerned that the Government of Kosovo has rejected the request and advice of its closest international partners on implementation,” said Price.

Asked to comment on the Kosovo Government’s new decision on phased re-registration that was adopted last Friday, and whether US Secretary of State Antony Blinken agrees with it, Price said the US does not seek phased implementation.

“We have been clear in public and in private that the international community, including the United States, seeks a full delay in the implementation of these matters. We don’t seek a partial delay, we don’t seek phased implementation,” said Price, adding that discussions are ongoing.

He encouraged Kosovo and Serbia to continue to engage in the European Union (EU)-facilitated dialogue, adding that the US will remain in close touch with its partners in the region and with the EU.

KoSSev noted that, despite EU’s and USA’s repeated requests for the process of replacing Serbian license plates with Kosovo ones to be  delayed for another ten months, the Kosovo Government decided last Friday, three days before the expiry of the October 31 deadline, to introduce a phased implementation of its decision on re-registration.

In practice, its decision on fully replacing the Serbian license will be implemented until April 21, 2023 – starting with warnings, fines, to probationary license plates, until the Serbia-issued plates would no longer be valid.