Reeker: Kosovo, Serbia work to find solution, US supports

The senior US official made comments during a teleconference for journalists, just the day Kosovo and Serbia delegations met in Brussels.

In a Radio Free Europe question about what the role of the United States is currently in dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia, following the EU's initiative to resume the process, and whether there is co-operation between the US and the EU, Reeker said that “is welcome to resume dialogue” and that the US will support this process.

I think that Kosovo and Serbia should work on finding a solution and we welcome this option”, Reeker said.

He confirmed that on Friday in Brussels he will meet with EU Special Representative for Dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia Miroslav Lajcak.

According to the State Department official, dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia remains an important priority for the United States further. He also recalled the initiative of Special Representative of the White House Richard Green.

“Grenelli has worked economically to help both countries find ways to improve their economies, improve the lives of citizens. This is inevitable for Serbia and Kosovo as neighbouring countries, and this will help them find a path towards improving relations, as well as moving forward on long-term goals and priorities”, Reeker stressed.

The topic of the economy has had to be on the table of discussions between Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vuciq, and Kosovo's Hashim Thaci, during a meeting scheduled to be held at the White House on 27 June. However, he was canceled three days ago because the Specially Specialised Prosecutor at The Hague announced that he had long ago presented a preliminary procedure judge with an indictment against President Hashim Thaci for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The United States so far has not announced a date for the resumption of talks between Serbia and Kosovo under the mediation of Ambassador Green.

Meanwhile, President Vuciq and Kosovo Prime Minister Avdullah Hoti met in Brussels with the European Union's mediation on 16 July. As it was said after the meeting, the topics discussed there have been the issue of unemployed persons and the economy. This meeting also marked the resumption of dialogue in Brussels after 20 months of impasse.

So far, Ambassador Green has brokered three agreements to create an airline and railway, as well as the Pristina-Belgrade highway.

None of them have been implemented so far.

When she announced the meeting warned at the White House on June 27th, Grenelli said she has received guarantees from both sides that they would temporarily stop their campaigns - Serbia the campaign to attract recognitions of Kosovo's independence and prevent Kosovo's membership in international organisations, while Kosovo would ban its campaign to become members of international organisations.

Responding to Radio Free Europe's question, Philip Reeker also stressed that “excellent steps have been taken in the Green-led process, and that the United States will continue to support both sides to implement the agreements that were signed under its mediation.

Reeker also spoke of US commitment throughout the dialogue process.
Our “ambas in Belgrade and Pristina remain active and are in close contact with governments in both countries in order to support them to find a way to move forward in this process. We will continue our talks with the European Union and other interested parties”, Reeker concluded.