Some people seem to consider it a scandal (or want it to turn it into one) that a US ambassador in certain moments might know more about the security situation in a certain region (in this case the north of Kosovo) than a Prime Minister. But is this a scandal?

The US has the largest intelligence capabilities in the world. Look at the huge US embassies in Prishtina, Skopje, Sarajevo (or at Camp Bondsteel). Of course, not only do diplomats work there. So sure US ambassadors at times have information others do not, including governments.

For a German audience, the “news” that an American ambassador might know something the host country does not, is no news, as this happens all the time. Surprised to learn it should be different in Kosovo.

Mr. Kurti made this statement during our recorded conversation and later authorized it in the written transcript of that conversation, which I gave to his team prior to publication as some of the topics we talked about (not the part of the ambassador) were potentially sensitive.

As the interview was way too long (keep in mind, Kosovo is not a big issue in Germany), I took certain parts out of the authorized version which were of lesser interest to our readership. Among them was the part on the US ambassador. That’s all. No need for conspiracy theories.