8 hours ago“Not due to certain negotiations...”, O'Brien's statements for Serbs in the north and calling for dialogue
Periskopi(a year ago)
(a year ago)US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien has called on Kosovo and Serbia to normalise neighbourly relations for the sake of its European integration goals. In an interview for the Serbian picture, Kurir, published on Sunday, O'Brien said the two countries need to do so. “think Kosovo and [...]
US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia James O'Brien has called on Kosovo and Serbia to normalise neighbourly relations for the sake of its European integration goals.
In an interview for the Serbian picture, Kurir, published on Sunday, O'Brien said the two countries need to do so.
“I think Kosovo and Serbia should understand that there are normal European ways to the issue. I think that now, with a more active European Union in the region, the two countries realise that there are things that each of them should do, which will make it easier to resolve questions”He said O'Brien.
But, he added, they must move forward and toė do these things “for the sake of their European path, not because of certain separate negotiations”.
O'Brien was also asked whether Kosovo Serbs can live under Prime Minister Albin Kurti's leadership, following a series of steps the Government took during 2024 to shut down Serb parallel institutions in the Serb-run majority north and extend authority there.
“ replied, adding that “Virtually every European country has needed to deal with such a case a community that feels connected to a neighbouring country because of national, religious or historical ties”.
O'Brien also called for Serbs in Kosovo -- specifically in the north -- to be given space to say their word, without influence or forced by others.
“We want to see that the voice of Serbs, in particular in the north, but also in all of Kosovo, is heard, not that they are forced to speak in one way or another, as benefits people in any capital. They must have rights like any other citizen in a democratic country”He said O'Brien.
He said the European Union's special envoy for Kosovo-Serbia dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and his team have made “successful jobs thanks to which there are solutions to the lives of Serbs in Kosovo with respect for them as a community so that they can live normally, as, for example, Germans in Italy or Dutch in Belgium”.
