Ambassador hopes for improved U.S.-Serbia relations

Serbian ambassador to the U.S. Ivan Vujacic says his return to Washington constitutes an attempt to improve relations after the American recognition of Kosovo. Serbia is trying to reach an agreement with Washington over EULEX and expects, according to the ambassador, better understand from the U.S. side in order to agree with Brussels over the EULEX mission. Ambassador hopes for improved U.S.-Serbia relations “We’re trying to reach agreement with Washington, to agree with both the outgoing and future administration over Washington’s help in deploying the EULEX mission, to support the deal between Belgrade and the UN,” said Vujacic. This was being worked on, he explained, adding that that was the main objective for the time being. “Of course the U.S. has recognized Kosovo and it’s hard to imagine they would revise that decision, but we’re hoping for better understanding for our efforts to reach a compromise over the EULEX mission with the Europeans,” said the ambassador. The reason for his return to Washington is the Serbian government’s wish to raise relations with the U.S. to a higher level. Speaking of the expectations for the new U.S. president and his administration, Vujacic said: “The Serbian government has similar expectations to the rest of the world, which is that there will be an emphasis on multilateralism, consensus, with a different European strategy. That’s what the Serbian government expects, and I think the majority of other countries too, particularly European ones.” As far as the make-up of the future Obama administration is concerned, the ambassador believes that it is important to see who he will choose as his advisers, adding that the new president will leave his own personal stamp on policy, and that in the most important issues for the U.S., in foreign relations, he will have the chief say.

Ambassador hopes for improved U.S.-Serbia relations

“We’re trying to reach agreement with Washington, to agree with both the outgoing and future administration over Washington’s help in deploying the EULEX mission, to support the deal between Belgrade and the UN,” said Vujačić.

This was being worked on, he explained, adding that that was the main objective for the time being.

“Of course the U.S. has recognized Kosovo and it’s hard to imagine they would revise that decision, but we’re hoping for better understanding for our efforts to reach a compromise over the EULEX mission with the Europeans,” said the ambassador.

The reason for his return to Washington is the Serbian government’s wish to raise relations with the U.S. to a higher level.

Speaking of the expectations for the new U.S. president and his administration, Vujačić said: “The Serbian government has similar expectations to the rest of the world, which is that there will be an emphasis on multilateralism, consensus, with a different European strategy. That’s what the Serbian government expects, and I think the majority of other countries too, particularly European ones.”

As far as the make-up of the future Obama administration is concerned, the ambassador believes that it is important to see who he will choose as his advisers, adding that the new president will leave his own personal stamp on policy, and that in the most important issues for the U.S., in foreign relations, he will have the chief say.