The U.S. does not support Osman's request for association with Americans, Havenier: Stirs to do difficult things belong to EU

The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Havenier, has said they are very committed to seeing progress in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia.

Asked whether any moves in the coming days can be expected to advance this process, Havenier has said he expects new efforts, adding that he must move ahead urgently and that there is no time to lose.

“We are very committed to seeing progress in dialogue. I can't speak for particular, but I expect new efforts because it's urgent. As mentioned earlier, September 24 showed that we have no time to waste. We must move forward urgently with the achievement of common understanding on how to fully implement, effectively, the obligations that are taken by both countries under the basic agreement and the annex of its implementation”, Havener has declared.

Osmani: We have to sit down with the United States and prepare our draft.

Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani has asked the US's direct involvement in dialogue weeks ago. In terms of this requirement, Hüvenier has said he is not sure how much more the United States can get involved in this process, until it has expressed full support for EU Emissar Miroslav Lajcak.

“This is for good the facilitated dialogue by the European Union. That is appropriate, because ultimately, incentives to do difficult things belong to the European Union. After all, as High Representative Josep Borrell stated in Ohrid, these commitments that have been taken should become part of the membership processes for both countries. And since it is a European process of European obligations and European commitments, it is appropriate for the European Union to take the lead and facilitate what is ultimately not a dialogue with Europe, but between Kosovo and Serbia. I think the United States has shown how serious we take this, how committed we are to seeing this issue resolved successfully. Miroslav Lajcak enjoys our full support. This dialogue enjoys our support”, the ambassador said.

On the other hand, Havenier said that he spends the most time on these issues and that sometimes he feels embarrassed when asked how much the United States can get involved in this process than it is now involved.

I spend more time on these issues than on anything I do as an American ambassador to Kosovo. My colleague in Belgrade is very involved. Our special envoy is very, very involved. So sometimes I'm embarrassed when people ask how much more involved we can be when I think about how involved we are already. After all, we want to see success for Kosovo. We want to see success for Serbia as well. And we want to see success for the European Union to see these countries fully on the road to bloc integration, which would increase sustainability, increase progress and help realise this view that we all share for a whole, free and peaceful Europe. This is the final target of”, Havenier declared in an interview for the Voice of America.