U.S. official: Belgrade, Priština can reach agreement

Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Philip Reeker says Belgrade and Priština can reach an agreement at the next round of the talks on April 2 in Brussels.

Izvor: Tanjug

Saturday, 30.03.2013.

13:21

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BELGRADE Deputy Assistant U.S. Secretary of State Philip Reeker says Belgrade and Pristina can reach an agreement at the next round of the talks on April 2 in Brussels. He noted, however, that decisions that would have to be made were difficult but that the Serbian government “has shown is up to the challenge of thinking about the best future for all citizens”. U.S. official: Belgrade, Pristina can reach agreement Reeker said that the recognition of Kosovo “is not an element of the EU dialogue” and added that the “European Council’s conclusions gave clear guidelines as to what needs to be achieved”. He said that “Serbia needs to solve the key issue and find a solution for the north and parallel structures there”. “We believe such an agreement can be reached because both sides have been working together constructively,” the U.S. official told daily Danas. “If no agreement is reached, it will be up to the EU to determine how Serbia and Kosovo can continue to achieve their goals in the European integration. An opportunity to improve lives of all people in Kosovo, especially in the north, would be missed and Serbia’s relations with Kosovo would continue to drain resources and time instead of focusing on economic development and regional stability,” Reeker explained. He underscored that the U.S. fully supported the Serbian and Kosovo PMs in the EU-sponsored dialogue and added that both sides showed political will to continue joint constructive work in order to find a solution. “It is clear that an agreement will not be ideal for either side. Still, both sides understand what they will get and both sides are willing to find a solution in return,” the deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state. He stressed that neither side could afford to stick to ideas that had plunged the region in conflicts and stagnation. “It is time to break up with the past, with fear and to think about the future. I think that leaders in Belgrade and Pristina want to do this. I know decisions are tough, but the Serbian government has shown is up to the challenge of thinking about the best future for all citizens. Prime Minister (Ivica) Dacic’s leadership, including his ability to establish working relations with (Kosovo PM Hashim) Thaci, is admirable,” Reeker said. When asked if Serbia would get a date for the start of the EU accession talks in June, he said that it was a decision only the EU could make. “We certainly hope for such an outcome,” he concluded. Philip Reeker (Tanjug, file) Tanjug

U.S. official: Belgrade, Priština can reach agreement

Reeker said that the recognition of Kosovo “is not an element of the EU dialogue” and added that the “European Council’s conclusions gave clear guidelines as to what needs to be achieved”.

He said that “Serbia needs to solve the key issue and find a solution for the north and parallel structures there”.

“We believe such an agreement can be reached because both sides have been working together constructively,” the U.S. official told daily Danas.

“If no agreement is reached, it will be up to the EU to determine how Serbia and Kosovo can continue to achieve their goals in the European integration. An opportunity to improve lives of all people in Kosovo, especially in the north, would be missed and Serbia’s relations with Kosovo would continue to drain resources and time instead of focusing on economic development and regional stability,” Reeker explained.

He underscored that the U.S. fully supported the Serbian and Kosovo PMs in the EU-sponsored dialogue and added that both sides showed political will to continue joint constructive work in order to find a solution.

“It is clear that an agreement will not be ideal for either side. Still, both sides understand what they will get and both sides are willing to find a solution in return,” the deputy assistant U.S. secretary of state.

He stressed that neither side could afford to stick to ideas that had plunged the region in conflicts and stagnation.

“It is time to break up with the past, with fear and to think about the future. I think that leaders in Belgrade and Priština want to do this. I know decisions are tough, but the Serbian government has shown is up to the challenge of thinking about the best future for all citizens. Prime Minister (Ivica) Dačić’s leadership, including his ability to establish working relations with (Kosovo PM Hashim) Thaci, is admirable,” Reeker said.

When asked if Serbia would get a date for the start of the EU accession talks in June, he said that it was a decision only the EU could make.

“We certainly hope for such an outcome,” he concluded.

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