Not Kurt's priority dialogue, Hill: He can say what he wants in front of the media.

When asked whether he has understood the existence of strategic relations between Serbia and Russia, putting emphasis on the Kosovo issue, Hill responded by saying that “cannot say that Russia has a positionive role in relation to Kosovo” that helps Serbia as it trigger the world's “power and food crisis”, Periscopi broadcasts.

On the other hand, he said the European Union is trying to find a solution and that the United States supports that.

“You know that the United States is interested in co-operating with authorities in Belgrade and Pristina, as well as with the EU, to see if we can make progress. If this were an easy thing, this case would be resolved a long time ago, Hill said.

When asked who is leading the negotiations between Pristina and Belgrade, the EU or the US, Hill said the dialogue is led by the European Union, but that many states, including the United States, have their own followers supporting the European Union's special envoy, Miroslav Lajcak, for whom he said there is no easy job.

“The EU is not unique in this matter, different states have different views, but they help”, he said.

During the interview, Hill also commented on the latest agreement on the license plate, which was preceded by a failed meeting between Kurti and Vuciqi in Brussels.

Hill said the European Union actually wanted the deadline to be extended for two more days so that the solution could be found.

“The EU and the US raised this requirement and eventually Kurti decided to extend the” deadline, Hill claimed.

However, he specified that issues such as plates do not help in solving Kosovo's problems in general.

“Albanians have tried to see how much space they have for internationalising their” issue. Again, from Serbia-Serbs have lived in Kosovo for many centuries and Serbia wants to see what their rights and future are in Kosovo. We have to deal with this”, Hill added.

He said this issue on the Association of Serbian municipalities to see what kind of structures can be built so that Serbs in Kosovo know what awaits them.

The “all this is a hard job -- for the government in Pristina to understand. But thanks to the EU's hard work, Kurti has realised that the issue for the future of Serbs in Kosovo must be a high priority and that it must be resolved through a normalisation process”, he added.

He has also commented on Kurt's statement saying dialogue with Serbia is not in his three main priorities and that it is only for mutual recognition.

Hill said Kurt may say what he wants for the media, but added that “making statements does not mean leading politics”.

He will have to speak to negotiators in Europe and the Americans. The EU has clearly told it must resolve the issue of the collective rights of Serbs in Kosovo. Be assured that there will be no further agreement until we resolve this matter”, Hill said.

“We would like Serbia and Kosovo to know each other, but many things have to be resolved before this”.

Asked about the so-called Franco-German plan, Hill has responded that the US supports the EU in the process of achieving a comprehensive normalisation of relations between the two sides.

If you ask me if Americans would like both countries to know each other, of course. We have to be honest and clear, many things have to be resolved before we get to that point by starting with a more normal approach because at the moment there is almost no agreement on license plates”, he said.

The situation needs to calm down so people can hear each other and not just scream and we understand what the plan is and how to move on.

He said the United States and the European Union support the European proposal, known in public as the Franco-German proposal”.

“We hope that Belgrade, which has also worked hard and has always come prepared for meetings, will continue in this direction”, Hill said.

US wants Serbs to return to Kosovo institutions

Speaking of his call for Serbs from Kosovo to return to Kosovo institutions, from where they left last month, Hill said Serbs should decide for themselves on this and that the United States wants them to return to institutions.

He added that the position of Serbs is: “We will return as soon as we see the agreements being respected”.

“After all, there is no agreement if only one party fulfills its” commitment. It seems that I agree with you (the Serbian side fulfills its commitment) as far as the issue is concerned, but I call for patience. Negotiations with Kosovo do not bring any immediate sanctions. It won't be. However, after a long period of slow movement, Americans are stepping up their efforts and encouraging the European Union to follow the same”, Hill said. /Periscopi/