Matthew Palmer: Government creation, current challenge for Kosovo

In an interview for the Voice of America, Matthew Palmer, Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said Kosovo's current challenge is the establishment of a government that would turn the country into dialogue with Serbia and suspend the fee on Serbian goods. Palmer stressed that setting the negotiations parameters is the responsibility of the parties and that focusing only on maps and territories diverts attention from the importance of reaching a comprehensive agreement on the full normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia.

Voice of America: Do you believe that following Kosovo Prime Minister Ramush Haradinaj's resignation, there is a clear way for Kosovo and Serbia to resume dialogue between them?

Matthew Palmer: We are very hopeful that Belgrade and Pristina can find a way back to the negotiating table and then find the way to reaching an agreement having mutual support, resulting in the full normalisation of their relations. And this would pave the way for a European future for both countries, for Kosovo and for Serbia.

Voice of America: Are the biggest chances now that Haradinaj is no longer prime minister?

Matthew Palmer: I think what is needed now is to establish a government in Kosovo. This is the immediate challenge. We want Kosovo to begin efforts to form a government as soon as possible. We would like that government then to return to dialogue, including the suspension of the fee on goods of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. We hope this starts soon.

Voice of America: Mr Haradinaj has been one of the biggest opponents of the territorial exchange idea as a possible solution. Do you think now that he is no longer prime minister, there is a greater possibility for reaching such a solution between Presidents Vusic and Thaci?

Matthew Palmer: We are now focused on bringing the parties back to the negotiating table. When you get back to the table, of course it is then the question of what they'll negotiate. And it is actually up to the parties themselves to determine what the parameters of what will be negotiated. None of the parties will be forced to do anything they cannot. But we would like negotiators to negotiate with good will for an agreement that could lead to mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo and on a path to Europe. The United States will not decide or dictate what the scope of negotiations will be.

Voice of America: Some experts in Washington claim that there is a draft agreement between Presidents Vuci and Thaci, which includes the exchange of territories, and that agreement is ready to be presented to the public. Do you know about this?

Matthew Palmer: If there is a draft agreement, if there is a comprehensive agreement that is ready for signature, I have not seen.

Voice of America: Have you heard of this?

Matthew Palmer: The same people who talk to you, they talk to me, saying the same thing to me. I think there's still a lot to negotiate about. Thus, the return of the parties to the negotiating table is the first step.

Voice of America: But is there any mutual ideas or agreements that can be reached based on the exchange of territories? Do you know about this?

Matthew Palmer: Of course, the parties have been negotiating for a long time what the parameters of an agreement are. I don't know what the fundamental issues are about territory or any particular component of this. Any agreement to be reached will be comprehensive, there will be political components of security, economic, trade, cultural, for example, when it comes to the property of the Orthodox Church in Kosovo. So I think that focusing solely on maps and territories moves much attention from the true meaning of the comprehensive agreement on normalization. The definition of normalisation is the responsibility of the parties. And they can only do this at the table of dialogue.