Johnson: Kosovo, Serbia seek greater US commitment

Pristina and Belgrade wanted a greater commitment by the United States to resolve the Kosovo issue, even demanding that I be committed to it, Republican Senator in Washington Ron Johnson said.

In an interview for the Voice of America in Serbian language, Johnson said the White House's special envoy for dialogue, Richard Green, and US State Department Special Representative for the Balkans Matthew Palmer has common plans for resolving the Kosovo issue, whose main focus is the economy.

Johnson said that Kosovo should form the government and that it does not want to provide <x0).

“Palmer and Green are cooperating. I've talked to both of you and I know they have a plan that focuses on economic opportunities. I think they can achieve something and then try to get both sides back to the table to work together”, said the US senator, who is the deputy chairman of the Europe and Regional Co-operation Committee.

Johnson stressed that it would be good for Kosovo to remove the tax it has imposed on products imported from Serbia, while Belgrade called on it to stop calling on other countries to withdraw recognitions for Kosovo.

This would be an important step. I think even Palmer and Green are looking for some kind of investment that will encourage both countries to cooperate. We are doing everything we can to promote better economic opportunities, attract investments and send signals to citizens of both countries that these will be the result of a successful” agreement, Senator Johnson said.

He stressed that the end of this year is not the real deadline for resolving the Kosovo issue and said it is good to go “step by step”.

Special Envoy Grenelli visited Pristina and Belgrade days ago, meeting with the highest leaders of both states.

He has stressed in Pristina that an agreement between the two states will lay the foundation for economic growth and contribute to the welfare of all citizens.

Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia started in 2011.

Currently this process mediated by the European Union has been suspended due to the 100 per cent tax Kosovo authorities have placed on the goods of Serbia and Bosnia in November last year.

This, since Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic, has cited this move as a rationale for not continuing dialogue.

Tax removal has been requested by the European Union and the United States.