Skopje, 12 December 2022 (MIA) – Counselor of the U.S. Department of State Derek Chollet will arrive in Skopje on Dec. 14 to meet with government leaders for discussions across a range of issues, including energy, the economy, and the fight against corruption, according to an official press release.  

Counselor Chollet will also travel to Kosovo, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, and Belgium with an interagency delegation from Dec. 11-17.  

“This visit underscores the enduring U.S. commitment to the peace, stability, and prosperity of the region,” the release from the U.S. Department of State says.  

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary and Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, who traveled to Kosovo on Sunday, is expected to arrive in Skopje together with Chollet.  

Counselor Chollet will join the delegation led by Escobar in Pristina on Monday for talks with government officials and other political leaders, and on Tuesday he will continue to Belgrade. On Sunday, Escobar visited the Visoki Dečani monastery alongside U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission in Kosovo, Alyson Grunder.  

The U.S. Counselor will then travel to Brussels, Belgium, on Dec. 16-17 to discuss cooperation with European partners and Allies on a range of global issues. 

Discussion topics include continued support for Ukraine, the EU accession path and European integration of the Western Balkans countries, energy security, and the EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, the release says.