"Serbia, U.S. share common strategic interests"

"Serbia, U.S. share common strategic interests"

“Serbia and the U.S. share common strategic interests pertaining to the creation of peaceful and prosperous Balkans, integrated into the European Union. Even so, our stances differ to a large extent when it comes to the final status of Kosovo.”

“A constructive dialogue at the highest level has been reestablished between Belgrade and Washington, which is very important bearing in mind the significant period ahead of us, that should be used for finding a solution that would enable the fulfillment of these strategic goals. We should not talk of the outcome of new negotiations, but focus on the upcoming hard work. Serbia will be committed to the process,” Jeremić said.

He stressed that Serbia and the U.S. were dedicated to reaching a peaceful settlement of the Kosovo issue, agreeing that threats of violence cannot be used as arguments.

Speaking to reporters at the National Press Club, Jeremić said all the democratic gains Serbia has made since the end of the Slobodan Milošević regime in 2000 will be at risk if Kosovo, against Belgrade's wishes, is declared independent, VOA reported.

"And if we falter, so will the rest of the region. For just as our success is guaranteed to propel the Western Balkans forward, real danger exists that Serbia's plunge back into her recent past could hurl the region back to the 1990s," he said.

Jeremić also complained that the position of the Bush administration, which says it will recognize Kosovo's independence if resumed status negotiations fail, means Washington has already made up its mind.

“There must not be a solution in which one side wins and the other loses. That outcome would fuel a new cycle of resentment and resolve to remedy perceived injustice. The future of Albanians and Serbs is membership in the European Union and NATO,” Jeremić stressed. 

A State Department official stated after the meeting that Rice “urged Serbia to cooperate in the coming months.”

“The U.S. secretary of state and the Serbian foreign minister discussed, among other issues, Kosovo's independence and Serbia's outstanding obligations regarding war crimes indictees."

"Kosovo was at the top of the agenda," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Everyone knows that Kosovo will be independent soon and we are urging their [Serb] cooperation in the coming months," he added, according to Reuters.