The US ambassador to Kosovo bids farewell to Gabriel Escobar

The US ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said goodbye to the US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, BGNES reported.
"My friend and colleague Gabriel Escobar is ending his tenure as Special Envoy for the Western Balkans. I wish him well in his next assignment. It was an honor to work with him to advance US goals in Kosovo and in the dialogue with the European Union. gratitude for his tireless dedication in advancing our vision of a secure, prosperous and democratic Kosovo and the Western Balkans region," Ambassador Hovenier wrote on the X social network.
The US State Department characterized Escobar's withdrawal as a "regular rotation" and not a dismissal.
In March, "Frontliner" magazine published a large-scale investigation that questioned the integrity of the American diplomat. The investigation detailed financial ties between Escobar's family and Serbian government bodies, suggesting a compromise of his neutrality in the sensitive dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. This dialogue is crucial for peace in the Balkans, marked by ethnic conflict and political instability.
Journalist Woody Ksimshiti revealed financial ties between Escobar's wife and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia in the organization of cultural events. These ties cast a shadow over the expected neutrality and impartiality of the international envoy and raise doubts about his actions during critical diplomatic events, such as the crisis in northern Kosovo's Mitrovica region in June-August 2023 and the attempted annexation of northern Kosovo by Serbian paramilitaries in September.
Frontliner also revealed a contract between law firm McGinnis Lochridge LLP and the government of Republika Srpska dated December 23, 2019, headed by pro-Russian President Milorad Dodik. This contract provides for monthly payments of $80,000 to the law firm to advise and represent Republika Srpska on international legal matters. The document shows an alleged family relationship between Manuel Escobar, a partner in the firm, and Gabriel Escobar. Although alleged family ties do not amount to a conflict of interest, in the nuanced realm of diplomacy they can heighten perceptions of bias, calling into question the impartiality required in such delicate negotiations. /BGNES