"U.S. backs Belgrade-Priština dialogue"

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on Wednesday that her country backs the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue and welcomes the agreements reached so far. Clinton said this after her talks with Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci. "U.S. backs Belgrade-Pristina dialogue" She noted that the International Steering Group "recently announced preparations that would make it possible to end the monitoring of Kosovo independence in 2012", the State Department released, adding that "a lot work still remains to be done". "This proves that the stable and independent Kosovo is ready to become a part of the international community," Clinton said. She reiterated that the U.S. supports "Kosovo's territorial integrity and sovereignty", and wants it to become "a full-fledged member of the European Union and NATO", the statement reads. Thaci was quoted as saying that the U.S. and the Secretary of State herself "have always been an inspiration to the people in Kosovo, particularly in terms of democracy and justice". "In the future, I see Kosovo and the entire region as a territory with no borders and with good neighborly relations," Thaci added. On Thursday, Thaci should confer with U.S. Vice President Jospeh Biden, but there is still no indication that he might also meet with U.S. President Barack Obama - something that was previously announced by the Albanian language media in Pristina. Hillary Clinton (Beta, file) Tanjug

"U.S. backs Belgrade-Priština dialogue"

She noted that the International Steering Group "recently announced preparations that would make it possible to end the monitoring of Kosovo independence in 2012", the State Department released, adding that "a lot work still remains to be done".

"This proves that the stable and independent Kosovo is ready to become a part of the international community," Clinton said.

She reiterated that the U.S. supports "Kosovo's territorial integrity and sovereignty", and wants it to become "a full-fledged member of the European Union and NATO", the statement reads.

Thaci was quoted as saying that the U.S. and the Secretary of State herself "have always been an inspiration to the people in Kosovo, particularly in terms of democracy and justice".

"In the future, I see Kosovo and the entire region as a territory with no borders and with good neighborly relations," Thaci added.

On Thursday, Thaci should confer with U.S. Vice President Jospeh Biden, but there is still no indication that he might also meet with U.S. President Barack Obama - something that was previously announced by the Albanian language media in Priština.