TIRANA, May 25 – US congress members Keith Self, a Republican, and Suhas Subramanyam, a Democrat, are visiting Serbia. They will also visit the Presheva Valley, a region with an ethnic Albanian majority.
Meanwhile, Serbian parliament speaker Ana Brnabic will receive the delegation in Belgrade. The congress members will also travel to Presheva after the meeting.
Presheva mayor Ardita Sinani welcomed the visit on Facebook. She described it as a historic moment for the region. In addition, she noted that the US congressional initiative led by Self helped advance a proposal in January. The proposal asked the US Secretary of State to prepare a report on minority rights in Serbia, with a focus on Albanians in the Presheva Valley.
The region includes Presheva, Medvegja, and Bujanoc. More than 60,000 Albanians live in Serbia, according to the 2022 census. International reports describe the Presheva Valley as politically isolated and often addressed mainly during election periods.
Earlier, the delegation visited Sarajevo. They met members of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. They discussed strengthening bilateral partnership and regional stability. The US Embassy in Sarajevo reaffirmed support for the Dayton Peace Agreement and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s territorial integrity.
At the same time, the Office of the High Representative said the visit highlighted continued US engagement in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The delegation also met First Deputy High Representative Louis Crishock to discuss the political situation in the country.
The congress members are expected to visit Kosova on Tuesday. Kosova Prime Minister Albin Kurti said earlier that he held a virtual meeting with Self and other congress members. He said defence cooperation between Kosova and the United States remains strong.
In addition, Self and colleagues Ritchie Torres and Mike Lawler proposed a resolution in April supporting Kosova’s NATO path. The resolution said Kosova’s democratic governance, civilian oversight of security forces, and multiethnic society support NATO membership.
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