Palmer: US and EU are not rivals, however, citing “weaknesses” EU in Western Balkans

In a video conference “The East West Institute” and “The Belgrade Fund for Political Excellence”, Palmer said the United States would remain committed to the region to ensure the final goal of the normalisation of Belgrade-Pristina relations.

“We have a common goal and a common vision for the Western Balkans, and we are partners on this matter”, Palmer was quoted as saying,

He underlined that the US and the EU are working together in the region, not only on the Belgrade and Pristina issue.

Palmer said the United States supports Lajcak's appointment and wants it to succeed.

He, however, also stressed that American efforts have led to the removal of Kosovo-based tax.

In addition, Palmer has said that EU and US unity is important, but also that in the past the problem was there were different voices within Union itself, which showed that the EU was divided.

While Lajcak stressed that the new government in Belgrade is now stronger than ever, and that if it fails to achieve results now, it will never be able to do so.

He recalled that dialogue is entering its tenth year and that he does not want another ten years for it to be completed.

It would be important that the parties not see Kosovo's problem as a bilateral issue, but as the issue of relations with the EU”, he has said, among other things.