US Special Representative for the Western Balkans Mathew Palmer told a news conference in Pristina with EU Envoy Miroslav Lajcak that for the US, the ultimate goal is mutual recognition.
“The United States strongly supports the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. The USA is not a party but we are a partner and we are actively involved and cooperating with Mr. Lajcak and his team in support of reaching an agreement on normalization of relations. “This has been a long-term goal of the United States for decades and I look forward to continuing close contacts with the governments in Kosovo and Serbia and reaching an agreement on the normalization of relations,” Palmer said.
Meanwhile, regarding the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities to be formed, he said that they will be created as the dialogue parties will agree.
“The form of how the Association should be made is how the parties will agree, namely Kosovo and Serbia,” Palmer said.
Lajçak stated that he was extremely happy that this time Palmer was accompanying him, as a sign of Euro-Atlantic cooperation in resolving the conflict.
“Our goal is to prepare the meeting between Prime Minister Kurti and President Aleksandar Vucic that will be held in Brussels in a few days. That’s why we’re here. “Our meetings were extremely fruitful and we will try to ensure the success of the cooperation.”
Asked about his previous statements on changing the constitution he said that international agreements reached between the parties should be incorporated into state legislation and that is what he has said regarding changing the constitutions.
“It is a good tradition that something I did not say is put in my mouth, what I said is that when an international agreement is reached, it should be included in the state legislation. “This is what the parties can agree on in the negotiations and this is in the hands of Pristina and Belgrade,” Lajcak said.
Lajçak and Palmer stayed for two days in Pristina, where they met with the most important leaders in Kosovo, with the President Vjosa Osmani, Prime Minister Albin Kurti, opposition leaders and community leaders.
