Secretary Blinken doesn't wait long: Common recognition requires compromise on both sides

In his message of congratulations, he confirmed that the United States is committed to developing a long alliance between the two countries, while stressing the comprehensive agreement with Kosovo, citing a compromise on both sides and mutual recognition.

The State Department welcomes efforts leading to the creation of normalisation of relations with Kosovo and the achievement of a comprehensive agreement aimed at mutual recognition will require flexibility and readiness for compromise from both sides”, the US Secretary of State said in an official statement on Serbian citizenship day.

The first week of February, United States President Joe Biden decided to write a letter of congratulations to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucinqi, on the 15th occasion of Serbia's citizenship day. This letter, which arrived on the last day of that week at the Serbian Presidency, although there were heartfelt congratulations of the president of the most powerful state in the world, contained an explosive request.

In a rather unusual way in diplomacy, through a letter of congratulations -- his first president to Serbia -- Joe Biden asked Serbian President Aleksandar Vuciq to recognise Kosovo as an independent state.

Although Biden called on Serbia for mutual recognition with Kosovo, the European Union believes that only Pristina and Belgrade can reach the necessary compromise. The EU has cited bilateral recognition as a condition for reaching a final agreement.