Palmer: We finally support Kosovo, but first it must help itself

Referring to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's initiative and French President Emmanuel Macron, Palmer said he believes it is initiative in support of Brussels' dialogue.

“We understand meetings in Berlin and Paris as designed to support the comprehensive dialogue for normalising reports between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the European Union”, he stressed.

Palmer, also said he expects the official Pristina to suspend customs duties on imports from Serbia so that the dialogue can continue as soon as possible.

Radio Free Europe: You just returned from Serbia where you met some top officials there and you are now in Pristina. Did you succeed in convincing both sides to return dialogue?

Matthew Palmer: We continue to support the European Union-led dialogue. I think it is fundamental for the future of both countries -- Serbia and Kosovo -- to find a way to normalise the reports, ideally that would mean mutual recognition and opening a path towards European integration for both countries, Kosovo and Serbia. Back to the table is fundamental to that. That means suspension of the fee, thus removing obstacles to progress. I believe both sides are ready to be reunited, but it is important that conditions be created so that this is possible. We remain the main supporters in this process. There is no way forward for Kosovo except dialogue with Serbia, normalisation of the reports, and we hope it can happen as soon as possible.

Radio Free Europe: In the U.S. view, is cutting tariffs an absolute condition for continuing dialogue?

Matthew Palmer: At this point we don't see another way forward. Whether it's fair or not, that's another question, but tax is a barrier to progress. Kosovo is not winning in any way. The tariffs are, in fact, as we see them, harmful to Kosovo's strategic interest in normalisation and the European path. So, we encourage authorities in Pristina to minimally suspend the fee in order to allow the process to resume, see if progress can be achieved, whether it can pull or move forward and now do all we can to move the process forward towards an agreement as soon as possible.

Radio Free Europe: Do you see readiness in Kosovo society to suspend the fee?

Matthew Palmer: I think this is a decision Kosovo must make on the basis of collective understanding of Kosovo's most important interests. I understand the tariffs are very popular and we understand why, but we encourage people, both political leaders and voters in Kosovo, to look well at what Kosovo is actually taking advantage of and what it actually caused in Kosovo. And if that was clearly looked at, I think they would agree with our conclusions that the tariffs are not radically helping Kosovo on the road in which it should move forward.

Radio Free Europe: Could Shuttle be diplomacy as something that could be used to get both sides back to the table?

Mathew Palmer: I was just in Belgrade, now I'm in Pristina.

Radio Free Europe: Is this part of Shuttle diplomacy?

Matthew Palmer: We hold talks with both sides in this process about how to move forward. After all, it is not up to us to negotiate a deal. Pristina will not negotiate an agreement with the US, will not negotiate an agreement with Brussels, should negotiate with Belgrade, so it must find a way forward by returning to the table of dialogue by returning to the negotiating table and reaching an agreement that advances the national interests of Kosovo.

Radio Free Europe: Is Pristina asking the United States to get more involved in this process, or is it perhaps in Shuttle?

Matthew Palemer: There is no process in which the U.S. would be involved or supported in some form of material. We need to find a way to restart the dialogue. The U.S. is committed to supporting that process. We've been involved and engaged since the beginning. We are prepared to do more in support of this process, but we have to find a way to get the parties back to the negotiating table to talk about fundamental issues.

Radio Free Europe: However, the U.S. is not as tough as it used to be when the fees were set. You canceled several visits to Kosovo, Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj did not participate in the morning prayers in Washington due to the visa issue. Has something changed in the meantime?

Matthew Palmer: People analyze more than they need in small developments, but the US currently supports Kosovo. Kosovo is partners for us and we are strategic partners for Kosovo. In that case, there are limits to what the US can do to help Kosovo if Kosovo does not help itself. So, in the sense of dialogue with Serbia, the natural consequences of blocking the dialogue process will be manifested even without the need for the United States to be strong and harsh in any particular way. Kosovo will not be able to move forward and, as I said in my public statements yesterday, if Kosovo does not move forward, it will slide back. So Kosovo must help itself and should help itself by doing what is necessary to restore this process and move forward.