Palmer: US wants Kosovo-Serbia mutual recognition

Gazeta Express

05/12/2019 13:30

The US State Department Special Representative for the Western Balkans Matthew Palmer told N1 broadcaster in Sarajevo on Wednesday that Washington wants to see a full normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina, including mutual recognition.

“If they recognize each other they could resolve disputes as neighbours,” Palmer said on the Pressing talk show. Palmer said that Belgrade and Pristina need to sit down, reach an agreement and draw their route to a European future together adding that they need to see what compromises are needed. They need an agreement which the public on both sides will accept and support as the best way forward. He warned that the agreement has to be implementable, just and long-lasting. 

Palmer said that the Western Balkans continue to be a priority in American foreign policy, adding that Washington wants the region to view the US and European Union as the partners they chose themselves. He refused to comment a recent Pentagon report about Russia’s influence in Serbia, saying that the US sees itself as a partner to all the countries of the region. According to Palmer, Washington is a better partner than Russia. He said Serbia’s reliance on the Russian military is not good for progress.