Kosovo and Serbia should return to the negotiating table and resolve the remaining issues through talks, according to US Assistant Secretary of State for Eurasian Affairs Matthew Palmer.
Regarding the Kosovo government’s warning that they will file genocide charges against Serbia, Palmer said that “there is always a lot of hot rhetoric” in the Western Balkans and that “this is a long background for dialogue”.
According to Express, he added that it is very important that the Prime Minister of Kosovo, Albin Kurti and the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic return to the negotiating table and dialogue on all these issues.
“Eit is well understood which issues need to be resolved through a dialogue process. This process is well and competently led by Miroslav Lajçakk, with the support of the United States. It is important for both sides to return to dialogue, discuss issues at the table, resolve them and move towards an agreement on the full normalization of relations, which, optimally, would be based on recognition mutual”, – emphasized Palmer.
Asked what specifically the US administration plans to do to start the dialogue, Palmer said he will work in close partnership with EU dialogue envoy Miroslav Lajcak.
He noted the fact that they are in regular contact with political leaders in Pristina and Belgrade, to invite both sides to talk, to work to support the implementation of the agreements reached through dialogue and to stressed the value of normalizing relations for Kosovo and Serbia at all levels.
“It is a path to a European future that both countries aspire to“, Said Palmer.
Asked if he believes the Serbian president is sincere in his intention for Serbia to integrate into the EU, Palmer said he thinks Vucic is absolutely serious about that goal and that he would like Serbia to move forward on the European path.
“It is his vision for the future of Serbia, it is the vision of the Serbian public, to a greater extent, and this is how the United States sees the future of Serbia. “We are working closely with Serbia as a partner and friend to help it implement the necessary changes.”
