Palmer: Encouraged to see Kosovo, Serbia together in fight against pandemic

Z. Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia Matthew Palmer, has commented on the situation in the Western Balkans as the region faces the body's pandemic. In an interview with Serbian Voice Service of America journalist Helena Djordjevic, Mr. Palmer refused to comment on the letter that two American lawmakers addressed to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, where they expressed concern about President Donald Trump's administration approach to Kosovo and Serbia. Mr. Palmer stressed that the United States is the main contributor not only directly to individual Western Balkan countries but also to international organisations that channel their assistance to the region.

During the interview, Mr. Palmer stressed the US aid of billions of dollars to the Balkan region over the past 20 years.

I think it's true for the whole region and even for most of the world: The most urgent needs are for testing skills, for personal protection equipment, and the capacities of companies and emergency teams to have the opportunity to offer assistance to those in need. More generally, I think the effort and energy spent by the United States... throughout the Balkan region, are being highlighted for institution building over 20 years. The countries of the Western Balkans have the opportunity to respond strongly to the risk posed by the coronary challenge because of the efforts the United States and other countries have made to help develop these” capacities, he said.

Asked about Russian and Chinese aid, which these countries exploit as propaganda, Mr. Palmer said this is not a competition, and that the United States is the main contributors to international organisations, which in turn assist different countries in the region.

This is not a competition. If there are things Russia and China can help Serbia, or other countries in the Western Balkans, I think this is fantastic. It is also very good that the European Union is contributing with considerable assistance to the Western Balkans. I think it's also very good that the United States is responding to the challenge. We are responding to bilateral roads, providing direct assistance to the individual countries of the Western Balkans. We are adding our effort through international institutions and forums. The United States is the biggest contributor to international relief actors, for the United Nations, for the World Bank, for the International Monetary Fund, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The United States is the biggest contributor to these institutions and we are channeling assistance through them to Western Balkan countries to help meet their” needs, said Mr. Palmer.

Z. The US Assistant Secretary of State also spoke of the situation in Kosovo's relationship with Serbia during this world pandemic period.

“I think that actually co-operation between Serbia and Kosovo on the Corleone issue is quite touching. It is one of the few good news that has come out of all this. There's an increase in trade. There is cooperation in medical care. Kosovo and Serbia, I think, have both signed the Ghulbra Cors initiative. In fact, I think that all countries in the Western Balkans now participate in this initiative, which is designed to facilitate, accelerate the flow of food and medicine in this crisis period. So it is encouraging to see that Serbia and Kosovo find common points and work together to address this joint challenge”, Mr. Palmer said.

More specifically for assistance to Albania and Kosovo, Mr. Palmer reaffirmed American engagement even in these difficult times.

For one thing, there is financial assistance going directly to the countries in question. These funds go to buy complete tests, personal safety equipment, reactors that are the necessary chemicals to conduct testing, equipment and disinfectation complete so that public objects can be kept safe. There is also assistance that we will continue to provide in both countries in strengthening institutional capacities. It is very important that the government is capable and in response to the needs of citizens, and this requires institutional development. This is something the United States has worked for over the years. So supporting independent media and media freedom, for example, is part of a job to ensure that the government is responsible and provides solutions. Supporting an independent judiciary ensures citizens have access to institutions that are designed to limit, channel and focus government actions. So we will continue to work with our partners in Kosovo, Albania and elsewhere in the region to respond directly to the medical threat from the virus and enable institutional structures that enable governments to be effective and responsible as they face this challenge”, Mr. Palmer said. / VOA/