Hoyt Brian Yee: Serbia knows meaning of my words, Russia, US are not the same

He told Greek agency “ANA-MPA” that Belgrade knows the meaning of his words he made during his visit to the Serbian capital and that the “ulje problem on two” chairs was also informed by diplomacy chief Ivica Dacic.

American diplomats questioned the exact message sent to authorities in Serbia, saying Belgrade cannot sit on two chairs, reports “b92”, Periscopi broadcast.

We support Serbia's efforts to join the European Union. Our advice to Serbia and other countries that want to become EU members is to make their stand clear to members of the Union that they are engaged on the European road in one step and do not open any dilemmas or conflicts of interest. We do not ask Serbia to end its ties with Russia, or with any other country”, Hoyt Yee said.

He added it is clear that Russia wants to implement its vision in the Balkans, which is obviously different from the common visions of the EU and the US.

Serbia must demonstrate, with its actions and words, to support the European, not Russian vision. Several moves by Serbia have backed the aggressive Russian goals, including the UN vote against the resolution on Russian occupation and the attempted prosecution of the Crime, which is contrary to EU policy, which is contrary to Serbia's desire to join the EU. The US and our European partners do not support Serbia only in words, but also help, invest so that Serbia achieves its goal it wants. This is Washington's current position, and this is the message Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has heard when he recently visited the White House and State Department”, Yee said.

A necessary theme was the state of Kosovo, which will mark the 10th anniversary of <x0-state” in February of 2018, though not recognised by all EU members and is one of the poorest states in Europe.

For such a new democracy, it is natural that reforms take time. The United States will continue to support strengthening the rule of law in Kosovo, increasing reforms, expanding the economy and fighting corruption. Kosovo will have to invest and work on normalising relations with Serbia in order to progress on Euro-Atlantic integration and eventually take place on the international scene “, he said.

The article says Hoyt Yi is perceived as a <x0-firer in Balkan politics” and is involved in resolving almost every political crisis in the region.

Asked to comment on the situation in Macedonia, where he played an important role in resolving the political crisis, he said the United States supported “positive ones presented by the government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev”./Periscopi/