We don't set deadlines, but dialogue must continue urgently

The United States would like dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia to continue urgently and the agreement reached can be fully implemented and “sold” to the public and both countries, said US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer, in an exclusive interview with the Voice of America in Serbian.

State Department official has said the US does not place “red” in the negotiations process which, according to him, does not mean that all options are open.

VOA: Do you expect Serbia and Kosovo will reach agreement for normalisation this year at the White House?

Palmer: We do not see this in time. We support normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, we would like dialogue to continue as soon as possible, and that both sides will agree to full normalisation of the relations at the right time. If this is going to happen this year, I can't predict.

But President Trump has called on the sooner the deal is reached, so I asked you if you expect this to happen this year?

Palmer: Right now we're more interested in both sides returning to the negotiating table, to resume dialogue and to move on to that agreement, step by step. I don't think setting deadlines would help this process, but we would like the talks to continue as soon as possible, urgently.

VOA: President (Serbian) Vuciq has spoken in parliament about reaching compromise with Kosovo and possible attacks by Albanians unless compromise is reached. Do you see this as a signal that Vuciqi is more willing to compromise than it used to be?

Palmer: I think Vucincici has clearly said he is willing to return to dialogue when taxes are removed and that he works on reaching the agreement for full normalisation of relations. We believe it is genuine and even the Kosovar side is sincere in the goals of achieving full normalisation of relations, but these are complicated political, psychological, emotional issues. And it takes time for this to be resolved, while the first step is for both sides to return to the negotiating table and start things at the right angle.

VOA: Why do you think Wuchi will succeed in solving this problem? Seven years is in power and nothing has changed.

Palmer: We believe President Vuciq is committed to Serbia's European future and I believe that all involved in this process realise that for the European future of Serbia and Kosovo, full normalisation of relations is needed. We hope both sides can negotiate, reach agreements, implement it and pave the European path that is clean and clear.

VOA: Belgrade is refusing to return to dialogue unless Pristina removes its heels. Pristina refuses to do so despite calls from the US and the EU. President Vuciq has said that Kosovo will waive taxes when it decides its <x0 Western”mentaries.

Palmer: It is important that political leaders in Serbia realise that Kosovo has independent agencies, that it is not an instrument of the US, but an independent state that has its own policy. The issue of tariffs promotes political tensions in Kosovo. We would support lifting tariffs if this is necessary for return to dialogue, it would be an important step forward, but we believe it is important that both sides manage the challenges independently and find a way to return to negotiations.

VOA: Does this mean Washington has nothing to do with influence Pristina to lift taxes?

Palmer: No, I didn't say that. There are things we can do and support and enable progress, which means encouraging our partners in Kosovo to take good and careful consideration if tax hikes are really in their interest. We think that in Kosovo's best interest there is an inclusive agreement with Belgrade, and to come to terms with the agreement, it needs to continue with dialogue, and that the dialogue continues to be necessary to remove customs barriers.

VOA: Do you believe dialogue can continue this year?

Palmer: Of course and possible.

VOA: It seems that Germany and France, after the Berlin summit, have removed the idea of partitioning Kosovo from the table.

Palmer: We think it is important that both sides decide for the parameters of dialogue. What we would like is for that agreement to be local, stable, right, to be fully implemented, which can be “quality” in the opinion of both countries, and which paves the way for the European future.

Does this mean that the United States still thinks about the idea of exchanging territories?

Palmer: We don't put red lines in the dialogue process, in the sense of what parties can talk about. That depends on them. That does not mean that all options are open. We would like to see the best possible deal that both sides would hand over if they ask for our support. If we have any problems, we'll show them and try to solve, but this is not our process, it's theirs, we just support them.

What do you expect from the Paris summit?

Palmer: The goal of the meetings in Berlin and Paris is to create conditions for both sides to return to the EU-mediated dialogue, which has only brought the Brussels Agreement and help towards a comprehensive agreement.

VOA: Will the U.S. be involved more strongly or more clearly in dialogue, now when the European Commission is in formation?

Palmer: We are partners of the European Union who runs this process. I don't see why that's gonna change. If it has a role for us, it is to be constructive and support that process that we are open to whatever it takes to support this process.

VOA: Many international organisations in their reports have found a decline in media freedom during Aleksandar Vuciqi's leadership. However, it seems that international officials do not pose this clearly enough. Why does the U.S. show up like you don't see this?

Palmer: I would not say that the US is presented as not seeing problems with media freedom in Serbia. For years we have invested significant, direct, declarative and political resources in terms of broader support for media freedom. What is vital for Serbia to understand and accept is that more is needed for progress towards the European road than just resolving the Kosovo issue. Serbia must meet EU criteria, while media freedom is one of the most essential.