Senator Murphy: Kosovo gives limited degree of Serbian self-rule to other Bosnia

The United States and Brussels, which hold the keys to NATO membership and the European Union, has declared, will continue to make it clear that it will be very difficult for any country to join those organisations unless differences between the parties exceed.

I think it's a very important agreement. I've spent a lot of time in the Balkans. I think it's a very important region for the United States. It's a region where we can't get peace as good. I've spent a lot of time with Albin Kurti and Aleksandar Vucic, and both have made, I think, very important moves for normalising relations between the two countries, has declared Murphy for the VOA.

He has stressed that the deal is not without political risk, but he thinks it is a risk worth taking.

I believe that both sides are serious about implementing this agreement and I think that it could be the cornerstone for continued work to ensure that each country recognises and respects the citizens of the other country and that each nation's right to join international institutions to become a full member of the international community”, the senator has declared.

Murphy has said it is in the best interests of Kosovo and Belgrade to implement this agreement.

I don't think it's a good policy for foreign powers or entities to force countries to do something they don't want to do or think it's in their best interest. So I don't see this as an issue that the United States offers incentives and consequences. It's just not useful in my opinion. We must work with the leaders and electoral groups in Kosovo and Serbia to persuade them to do what is right for their countries. And knowing that it is right and positive for both the political and economic future of the two countries, he has said of the medium.

Asked how realistic the idea of recognition is when, Serbia's president after the meeting in Ohrid said there are two red lines and that Serbia will never recognise Kosovo's independence and will never allow Kosovo to become a member of the United Nations, he has said independence the need of leaders who sometimes take certain positions, the agreement will be implemented.

Well, let's go step by step. I understand that political leaders sometimes have to position themselves in certain ways, but I think the fact that this agreement was realised shows that both Vucic and Kurti, who have electors who do not want reconciliation between the two countries, are willing to take risks, are willing to do the right thing, to promote peace<1>, he said.

There are all kinds of things in the Balkans that the leaders said would never happen, but then it happened, because you give them time, keep talking, keep building a way towards reconciliation and sometimes amazing things happen”, the senator has declared away.

He has also talked about the Association of Serb majority municipalities. Murphy has said no one wants another Bosnia, but that Kosovo should ensure a limited degree of self-government for Serbian municipalities.

Listen, nobody wants another Bosnia. This should not be the future of the Serb majority municipalities' association. I talked to Mr. Kurt on several occasions and explained that in the United States, we have a strong federal government. We have a strong sense of American patriotism, but we also have strong state governments. We have also given people in Oklahoma and Connecticut the opportunity to create a future for themselves. That's the difference. I think there is certainly a way for Kosovo to establish a limited degree of self-government for those who are predominantly Serb municipalities and do so in a way that does not break up the country's structure. This is a pledge that has been made in Brussels and that Kosovo should do it properly. I'm glad this is part of this” deal, he declared for VOA.

Murphy also said Serbia should join Western sanctions on Moscow due to its aggression in Ukraine.