American congressional: Establish Association, Stop Violence in the North

Democrat congressional, Bill Keating, has called for the establishment of the Association of Serb-run municipalities in Kosovo.

In an interview for the “Voice of America” in Serbian language, he has said that, first of all, violence in northern Kosovo should stop, and that the two sides have control over the matter.

“... First of all, violence has to stop and this is something on which both sides have control. It's a prerequisite for moving forward on all other fronts”, the American congressionalist has declared.

Commenting on the security issue in the Western Balkans, more precisely between Kosovo and Serbia, he said the concern of citizens, the US understands.

We understand those concerns and that, even with free elections, there are some things that were out of control of Kosovo, people boycotted. But we made clear those things that Kosovo has pledged, as far as those municipalities and the community are concerned, and in that direction it must continue to work”, Keating said.

On the other hand, he said he expects Kosovo to work towards establishing association, since, according to him, this is also the European Union requirement.

Kosovo has said it will make progress towards an association of municipalities, and this is something the European Union particularly wants to see”, Keating said, as it added that the United States is not as directly involved in the membership process as the European Union.

It's between Union and those countries. But if they move forward towards membership and engage in certain things, they also have to be fulfilled, if the European Union moves ahead of”, conventioner Bill Keating initiated.

Among other things, he has said the US wants to help the “region as much as we can and to try to facilitate peace”.

This has been happening for a long time and there are problems that need to be addressed”, he added.

Commenting on the US Subcommittee's session of Europe where it discussed the Western Balkans on Tuesday, July 18th, he said that it stressed how important the questions about holding new elections and participating, or working as hard as possible in them, as well as that full participation means there are no interference or efforts organised by Serbia to boycott elections. This is the important point of its”, the American politician said.

Citing Albania and Northern Macedonia as two countries that began negotiations for EU membership last year, Keating said the two “have done absolutely everything they have been asked for”.

There is no doubt that Albania and Northern Macedonia have done everything required in the context of membership in the European Union. And delay is not only important for these two countries but also for the entire region. I think that other countries, which are moving towards membership in the European Union and planning to do so, should see actions in this direction and that would inspire them to walk faster by themselves”, he said, broadcast Clankosova.

Serbia to distance itself from Russia

US congressionalwoman Bill Keating has said Serbia can move forward or lag behind with Russia.

Serbia has said there was a past with sanctions when they were on the wrong side of sanctions, which affected their later policy. I think it's time to move on, because otherwise there's no way forward. I think this will become increasingly clear to Serbia. There is no way to advance by co-operating with Russia on the issues of destruction and unrest. It just doesn't benefit from that. And the next thing is, as we move forward with some of the other countries in the region, Serbia would like to join. They won't want to be left behind. So we can work on two fronts. First, let us make it clear that such actions undermine the entire region and are not fair to the countries that make up the region as a whole. And secondly, that we will move forward with concrete steps in the region and that they may be involved and benefit from this, or remain behind”, the conventioner from the Masechusets, Bill Keating, stressed.