US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary Matthew Palmer as his Special Representative for the Western Balkans who will lead the US efforts to strengthen their diplomatic engagement in support of peace, stability, and prosperity in the region.

As Special Representative, Palmer will travel to Slovenia beginning on September 1 to attend the Bled Strategic Forum. He will also represent the United States at the Quint Balkan Directors meeting in Brussels and attend meetings in Vienna and Podgorica, September 4-10.

In addition to serving as the Secretary’s Special Representative, Palmer will continue to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, a position he has held since 2018.

Previously, he was Director of the Office of South-Central Europe.

Citing unnamed sources, the US Foreign Policy Journal reported that Palmer is expected to assume the role of US mediator in the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue.

“In an effort to relaunch the stalled Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, the State Department is expected to appoint a new special envoy for the Balkans aimed at ending the longstanding dispute in Southeast Europe,” the Jurnal wrote.