Hill: Kosovo, Serbia review Franco-German proposal

Ambassador Hill said the desire for progress has also been reflected in Tuesday's calls by Secretary of State Antony Blinken with Serbia's president, Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, as well as the commitment of France and Germany's national security advisers, who, as it has been said, put on the table a proposal for an agreement between the two sides.

“But I can say that Europeans want this thing to move. Clearly, these are difficult issues, but it is important that both sides understand that there are other things going on in Europe, for example in Ukraine, and it is time for progress on this issue. I think both President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti agree to review that proposal and see what can be done”, Hill said in an interview for the Serbian-language programme of the Voice of America.

Neither Paris nor Berlin have spoken of the proposal, which according to the Serbian president, envisions Serbia allowing Kosovo's membership in the United Nations Organisation, but without knowing its independence, while in exchange for Serbia, it will offer acceleration of membership in the European Union.

Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti said different models are being discussed, but there is nothing final or crucial that could be said to be the Franco-German proposal.

Ambassador Hill said there are issues to be addressed. I'm not sure when to be treated, but I think that's why it was important that some senior officials, including our secretary of state, make it very clear that we want to see progress. There's a lot of dangerous developments going on in Europe related to Ukraine, and we have to deal with them, and we hope that this can move forward”.

Ambassador Hill said that “President Vucic has said in many cases that this would require both sides to take and deliver. I think this is the right attitude and we need to see if anything can work”

He said there is a feeling that <x0 this issue is open for quite a long time and it's time to make some progress”.

Ambassador Hill said the European Union is the best solution for Serbia despite disappointment with the procrastination of negotiations with the EU.

If I appreciate where Serbia should be in a distant future, I would say it should be in the European Union. And I would like to add that depending on what Serbs want to do, depending on the decisions they make, I think a good place for Serbia's security in the future would be in NATO. Again, it is up to the Serbian people to decide, but I think this is the right place for them in terms of imposing sanctions on Russia”, Ambassador Hill said.

Although a candidate for membership in the European Union, Serbia has refused to join Western sanctions against Moscow due to aggression in Ukraine.

Ambassador Hill said it is understandable that Serbia's energy dependence on Russia is concerned, but the multi-nations are suffering from imposing sanctions and there are many small countries in the European Union that are faithfully implementing sanctions. And it wasn't easy for them, but they do it, because they know it's the right thing to do. I think Serbia should take a close look at this issue, and my government has been very clear that Serbia should join these sanctions, but ultimately the Serbian leadership must make a decision. You know, what's happening in Ukraine is truly disgusting morally. It's completely unacceptable. I don't think this is really a good place to sit on the line between good and bad. And I hope that the Serbian people will arrive at this conclusion”, Ambassador Hill said.