American Ambassador in Belgrade: Recognition of Kosovo will not be a condition for Serbia's entry into the EU

2024-06-13 09:47:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

American Ambassador in Belgrade: Recognition of Kosovo will not be a condition

American Ambassador in Belgrade, Christopher Hill. Source: RFE/RL

The American ambassador in Belgrade, Christopher Hill, expressed his conviction that the formal recognition of Kosovo will not be a condition for Serbia's entry into the European Union (EU), but the normalization of neighboring relations with it.

In an interview for the June 13 edition of the weekly "NIN", Hill said that the Europeans are asking Belgrade "exactly what they say they are asking for, which is the normalization of relations", and added that the EU wants peace and security in region, of course also between Kosovo and Serbia.

"I think they have said very clearly that there are EU member states that do not recognize Kosovo, so the important issue is to try to achieve normalization where those borders will not be borders that divide, but borders that unite, borders that really unite them," Hill said.

In April, the Council of Ministers of the European Union approved the final decision to change the negotiating framework for membership with Serbia, making its acceptance conditional on the normalization of relations with Kosovo.

He emphasized that the US supports Serbia's ambitions to become a member of the EU and is trying to help it "in this effort, because it is quite clear that Serbia will be in the European Union in the future."

Hill underlined that the US "made it very clear" that it would like Serbia to join the sanctions against Russia, but added that Serbia "has also taken some important steps to make it clear to Russia that it disagrees with the aggression she is committing against her neighbor".

"We have a very good dialogue with Serbia. And, yes, Serbia has taken some very concrete measures to let Russia know that what it has done in Ukraine cannot stand. And, sooner or later, Russia will should reach a peace agreement and withdraw from Ukraine. I think we get along well with Serbia," said Hill.

Regarding the relations between the US and Serbia, Hill said that "they have a very good dialogue, even though they don't agree on everything; for example for Kosovo".

"But we agree on the necessity of peace and security in Europe. And I think we agree very much on the fact that Russian aggression against Ukraine must stop. I wish we could do more. I think our two nations have a lot in common and I would like our ties to strengthen in the coming years," added Hill.

Regarding the "all-Serbian assembly", which was held on Saturday in Belgrade, Hill said that "everyone should understand that the Dayton Agreement is the basis of the territorial integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the territorial integrity of the entities within BiH- and that these elements of Dayton must be respected by all parties".

Hill expressed hope that there will be justice "and some accountability" for the attack by a group of armed Serbs against the Kosovo Police last September in northern Kosovo, where a police sergeant was killed.

"It certainly hasn't been a day that has helped Serbian interests, and it certainly hasn't helped U.S.-Serbian relations either," Hill added.

He also said that the US is "very disappointed" that in the Government of Serbia there are again two people who are under US sanctions - Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Vulin and Minister without portfolio Nenad Popovi?.

"You see, I have to look at what's the best way forward for the things we're trying to do with the Government of Serbia. And when you comment on individuals in the Government of Serbia, I'm not sure that's the best way forward Before, of course, we expressed our views on those two individuals and I think I will put it aside and continue with what I am doing here," he added.