PRISTINA -- The U.S. ambassador to Pristina has expressed concerns about the partnership between the United States and Kosovo, especially regarding the government's handling of issues related to the country's Serb minority.
In an interview with RFE/RL's Kosovo Service, the ambassador, Jeffrey Hovenier, said "the quality of our partnership is not what we would hope it would be on some of these issues" and that the U.S. administration had been "challenged" by Kosovar Prime Minister Albin Kurti and his government.
In recent weeks there has been an uptick of tensions in the Serb-majority north of the country, with ethnic Serbs protesting against the government's plan to reopen a controversial bridge and the closure of Serbian post office branches.
Ethnic Serbs are protesting the government's plan to reopen to vehicular traffic a bridge in the northern city of Mitrovica, which separates Serbian and Albanian communities and has been a flashpoint for violence in the past.
While the Kosovar government has said reopening the bridge can better integrate the Serbian population and boost the regional economy, locals Serbs are concerned that the move would increase ethnic tensions and impact their safety.
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Proposed Bridge Opening Raises Tensions With Kosovo Serbs
Ambassador Hovenier said that, while the United States believes the bridge should ultimately be open to vehicles, "this is not the time" due to security concerns.
"We believe there's real risk associated with taking this action right now," he said, citing potential violence and threats to NATO soldiers, including Americans.
NATO forces have been operating in Kosovo to maintain peace and stability since 1999, when the military alliance intervened to stop escalating violence being perpetrated by Serbian forces against ethnic Albanians.
Before the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Kosovo was an autonomous province within Serbia, which was itself a constituent republic of Yugoslavia.
While acknowledging areas of positive cooperation between the United States and Kosovo, particularly in economic development and strengthening government institutions, Hovenier said Washington had been "challenged by the prime minister and by his government" regarding its handling of issues pertaining to the Serb minority.
Last week, the Kosovar authorities closed down nine branches of the Serbian post office in the north after determining that they were operating illegally and without a license, a move that was criticized by the United States and the EU, which has mediated Serbia-Kosovo relations for over a decade.
There are an estimated 120,000 ethnic Serbs living in Kosovo, mostly in the north, and many still receive benefits or pensions from Serbia, which has never recognized Kosovo's 2008 declaration of independence.
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Jeffrey Hovenier Speaks To RFE/RL
Kosovo's Serbs have protested against Pristina's authority in areas such as health care, pensions, education, and customs controls.
In the interview, the U.S. ambassador expressed concern that Kosovo's drive for EU accession could be "negatively affected" by the government's actions.
As Kosovo seeks participation in international organizations such as NATO, the Council of Europe, and the EU, Hovenier stressed that the government's recent moves "reduce the appetite and reduce...the enthusiasm for supporting Kosovo on these paths."
"I have not seen a lot of enthusiasm in support of this government's efforts right now for new memberships in international organizations," he said.
Hovenier also emphasized how important it was for Kosovo to secure the support of existing members of international organizations, especially as "certain countries in those institutions...don't recognize Kosovo the way we do as a sovereign, independent state."
The United States and all but five EU members are among the more than 100 nations who acknowledge Kosovo's independence.
Hovenier urged the Kosovo government to take into account U.S. concerns, saying the U.S. requests were "heartfelt" and "humble."