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A statement posted on the US embassy's website in Berlin says that "we welcome the initiative for the" mini-Schengen "of the Western Balkans as a way to start the free movement of people and goods. We believe that this initiative will be successful, it must involve everyone in the region, including the government of Kosovo. The Trump administration is focused on helping the entire region create economic opportunities and jobs for young people," the statement said.
A joint initiative of the leaders of the three Balkan countries, Albania, Serbia and Northern Macedonia for a Balkan Schengen, prompted reactions and clashes in the distance between Pristina and Tirana.
The next meeting was held in Ohrid on Sunday following the October 10 meeting in Novi Sad, where Kosovo, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina were also invited.
But Kosovo refused the participation, describing the initiative as an attempt to recreate a new Yugoslavia. Kosovo's president, Hashim Thaci, said Kosovo does not want to replace the Euro-Atlantic future with any regional initiative.
The leader of the Vetevendosje Movement, Albin Kurti, also a candidate for prime minister of Kosovo, said on Wednesday that has been made a mistake in steps regarding the regional initiative for the free movement of people and goods.
According to him, Albania had to wait for the formation of the new government of Kosovo before any regional initiative.
Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama criticized Kosovo for self-isolation while stressing that the initiative aims only at the free movement of people throughout the Western Balkans.