American official: We expect the new government in Serbia to respect the agreements with Kosovo

2023-12-14 16:58:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

American official: We expect the new government in Serbia to respect the

James O'Brien, US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia

In an interview for the Voice of America, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, says that he expects the new government of Serbia to respect all agreements reached with Kosovo in the past. Mr. O'Brien says that the future of the region is the introduction of the two countries into the European common market and EU membership. The normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia was part of yesterday's declaration of the EU summit with the Western Balkans. The Government of Serbia has sent a letter to the EU, stating that the declaration is political and not binding, insisting on its position against any kind of recognition of Kosovo, "de facto, or de-jure".

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, James O'Brien, said that he expects that the new government of Serbia, which will emerge from the December 17 parliamentary elections, will respect the agreements reached with Kosovo.

Mr. O'Brien said that the United States will closely monitor the progress of the elections and expressed confidence that they will be free and fair.

"The Serbian people can vote for whoever they want. What we expect from the government is to adhere to the agreements it has reached regarding Kosovo", said Mr. O'Brien for the Voice of America.

The senior US official added that recent months have seen progress on some of the most contentious issues between the two countries.

"Some of the key disputes have started to be addressed such as license plates, customs, forms, and others. We need this to continue with the arrival of a new government. We seem to see progress in the future," said Mr O'Brien.

He said that the future of the region depends on close relations with the common European market and the membership of Kosovo and Serbia in the EU, a process that he said may require several years.

"In order to become part of the European common market, the parties must address their differences and accept their limits, then agree to work together as part of this wider enterprise," Mr O'Brien said.

He said that this is the way the EU has operated since its inception and that this method has yielded results for many neighboring countries that have had strained relations over the years.

Reducing tensions in the Serb-majority north is one of the first steps towards normalizing relations between the two countries, says Mr O'Brien.

"Neither side has reason to incite tensions there. That area should stay quiet. Serbian citizens living in that region should be welcomed in public institutions. This, I think, will keep tensions low ," he said.

Kosovo-Serbia tensions reached their highest point at the end of September, after an attack on the Kosovo police by a group of armed Serbs, where a police officer and three of the perpetrators of the attack were killed.

The US Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia said that the parties have a lot of work to do to move forward towards normalization on the path they agreed on last March in Ohrid.

On Wednesday, after the high-level meeting of the EU with the countries of the Western Balkans, the final statement called for the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia, based on the Ohrid agreement, which requires good neighborly relations between Kosovo and Serbia, recognition of documents and symbols and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

It requires that the parties do not hinder each other in the integration processes, but it does not require mutual recognition.

The Government of Serbia, in a letter sent to the Diplomatic Office of the European Union, which was obtained by Voice of America, called the statement a political document, which is not legally binding. In the letter, Belgrade insists against any recognition, de facto or de jure, of Kosovo./ VOA