US Begins Strategic Dialogue With Serbia Amid Kosovo Concerns

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Pastor Mark Burns said the U.S. State Department’s decision to begin strategic talks with Serbia reflects growing attention to concerns involving religious freedom, the Serbian Orthodox Church, and the treatment of Christians in Kosovo.

Burns made the remarks after visiting Serbia, Kosovo, and the Republic of Srpska alongside Serbian Patr. Porfirije. In a statement shared on social media, Burns said he was grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for what he described as their concern for persecuted Christian communities and the protection of religious heritage.

During his visit, Burns accompanied Patr. Porfirije to the Patriarchate of Peć and Visoki Dečani Monastery, describing the sites as central to the spiritual and historical identity of the Serbian Orthodox Church. He called for the Patriarch to be allowed unrestricted access to Kosovo monasteries and churches to fulfill his pastoral responsibilities without political obstacles.

Burns emphasized that his appeal was not directed against Kosovo’s Albanian population or Muslim communities, but rather toward equal religious freedom for all believers. He urged Pristina authorities to permanently guarantee access for the Serbian patriarch, clergy, and faithful to their churches and monasteries, saying sacred places should remain centers of prayer, reconciliation, and peace.

In light of its current talks with Serbia, the U.S. State Department said that its strategic dialogue with Kosovo, suspended in 2025, could resume conditionally.

"We remain committed to advancing the shared interests of the United States and the people of Kosovo. We look forward to engaging in the Strategic Dialogue with Kosovo when the appropriate conditions are met, including the fulfillment of Kosovo’s obligations to Kosovo Serbs," the State Department stated.

The statement marks the first time Washington has directly connected the Kosovo dialogue’s restoration with those obligations, which include unresolved issues related to agreements between Belgrade and Pristina and concerns involving Serbian Orthodox religious sites.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Porfirije hosted Pastor Mark Burns in Serbia and Kosovo.