European Forum

US Vice President visits BiH, Serbia and Kosovo

Between 19 and 22 May US Vice President Joseph Biden did a short Balkan tour as he visited Bosnia-Herzegovina (BiH), Serbia and Kosovo where he met with top local and international officials. Biden’s visit comes after the former US administration reduced its political and military presence in the region, a decision that according to some observers, to a certain extent, has contributed to the country's growing political deadlock. The fact that the Balkans has been selected as the second official foreign visit of Biden, reflects growing understanding and readiness of the new administration to reengage in the region. In addition, there are growing calls for the deployment of a US special envoy to the region.

Biden’s visit started in Sarajevo, where he held talks with the members of the tripartite presidency and other political leaders. Addressing the BiH parliament Biden said that the US “are worried about the direction your country (BiH), your future, and your children’s future are taking. For three years, we have seen a sharp and dangerous rise in nationalist rhetoric designed to play on people’s fears, to stir up anger and resentment.” The Bosniacs leaders expect the US to push for more radical constitutional reform which would strengthen state level institutions in the country. Although Biden visit to BiH is considered by many as positive sign of new US engagement in the region, some analysts warned for the boomerang effect: the promising words of Biden could be an empty shell as the US ―facing the current challenges and the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan ― will not be able to offer concrete help.

The next day Biden left for Belgrade, where he stressed the importance of cooperation with Serbia during his meeting with Serbia’s President Boris Tadic and Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovic. Biden said recognition of Kosovo by Serbia is not a precondition for the relationship with Serbia or US support for Serbia becoming part of the EU. He added that both countries have reasonable expectations from each other regarding Kosovo. After the meeting President Tadic told journalists he hopes the visit will lead to a new phase in US policy towards Serbia and the Western Balkans, in which Serbia will be seen as a factor for regional stability.

The US Vice President finalized his Balkan tour in Pristina where he received a hero welcome by Kosovo Albanians who are thankful that the US has led Kosovo to independence from Serbia. Biden met with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and President Fatmir Sejdiu. It was the first visit by a senior American official since Kosovo declared independence last year. Biden assured Kosovo's assembly that the country's independence was irreversible, rejected Kosovo's partition, and told the ethnic Albanians they had to reach out to Serbs.

On of the main messages in all three countries Biden visited was that the US wants to see Western Balkans integrated into the EU.

Source: Associate Press, BIRN, SETimes, B92, Radio Slobodna Evropa and NRC.