Former American ambassador pessimistic about improving Kosovo relations- Serbia

“I am not optimistic about the Kosovo issue and I expect the issue to continue to burden the region,” said Montgomery.

Asked whether there was room for a compromise solution, given that Pristina accepted nothing but independence.

My personal decision is that if there will be a compromise solution, then it will be the result of a direct agreement between Belgrade and Pristina,” says Montgomery, but stresses that two main obstacles exist for such an agreement.

The first obstacle, he says, is that Kosovo Albanians have strong support from Americans to maintain position on Kosovo's independence within borders. As long as the United States maintains that position, it is unlikely that every politician, Kosovo Albanian, will take on the political risk of overcoming every territory,”, he says.

Another obstacle is that a good compromise would be what many of both sides, largely, would consider to be unacceptable and otherwise, reports “b92”, Periscopi broadcast.

I think it would be very difficult for Serbia and Kosovo Albanians, but especially for the latter,” says Montgomery. According to him, four possible results exist when it comes to Kosovo. The first one, he says, is an extension of the current situation, which will eventually be used as a reason to block Serbia's EU accession.

The second is normalising relations without direct recognition of Kosovo's independence by the Serb side. “I expect the EU will ask Serbia to influence Russia to stop blocking Kosovo's UN accession in exchange for Serbia's EU membership,” said the former US diplomat.

The fourth possible result is for the Serbian leadership and leadership of Kosovo Albanians to reach a bilateral agreement, in which there will be elements that the international community would not like.

As an example of these elements, Montgomery lists some aspects of the division of Kosovo and the involvement of a smaller part of the territory in Serbia, which is now largely inhabited by Albanians. “You know compromise is good, when the main players on both sides strongly oppose it,” concludes Montgomery.

Commenting on his recent visit, Senator Ron Johnson told Serbia that he simply reiterated US standards positions and that his visit, in view, should not be interpreted as some kind of pressure.

Asked about Russian-Serbian relations and EU requirements for Serbia to harmonise its foreign policy with European, even in Russia's case, Montgomery says this demand should be seen in light of the fact that many in the EU do not want at all new members, and especially those with serious problems with their neighbours./Periscopi/