“No change in U.S.-Serbia relations”

American Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter says that the U.S. and its new president, Barack Obama, will continue to encourage Serbia's prosperity. Munter says that Washington would back the country on its path to the EU and NATO, boost democracy, and contribute to Serbia’s stability. “No change in U.S.-Serbia relations” “We will assist in strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnership relations by supporting Serbia on its European Union pathway, its participation in the NATO Partnership for Peace program, and bilateral military cooperation with the Ohio National Guard,” Munter says in a text for Belgrade daily Politika, published on Tuesday. He says that the U.S. will also assist Serbia by providing a better economic climate, new investment and growth in the economic sector; by contributing to the strengthening of an independent judiciary and parliament; and by promoting a more transparent political and electoral system, a stronger civil sector and independent media. “We will promote Serbia’s stability by helping develop a modern, effective and transparent security structure,” adds Munter. Assessing that relations between Serbia and the US are richer, multi-dimensional and, for the most part, successful, he adds that in spite of the fact that relations are still frayed over the Kosovo issue, that fact should not cast a shadow on what is generally a good relationship. “U.S. support for an independent Kosovo will not change with the arrival of the new administration,” he stresses. “We therefore have to accept the fact that we disagree over one issue and, at the same time, we have to continue implementing a constructive partnership that will be to Serbia’s benefit,” Munter surmises. Emphasizing that the U.S., under Obama, will continue to hold out the hand of friendship to Serbia to promote a brighter future for the Serbian people, the ambassador states: “As an American, a diplomat and U.S. ambassador, I am looking forward to serving in the Obama administration. There is no better time to be a citizen or friend of the United States. I hope that the Serbian people share my enthusiasm.” In the article, written to coincide with Obama being sworn in tomorrow as the 44th U.S. president, Munter writes that the Americans elected Obama, with his unique biography and exceptional credentials, because they want the country to take a new course. Cameron Munter (Tanjug, archive) Kosovo "done deal" The change promised by Barack Obama in his campaign will not be reflected much in the U.S.’s relations with Serbia, one expert says. Zivorad Kovacevic, the long-time president of the European Movement in Serbia and the former Yugoslav ambassador to the U.S., told daily Vecernje Novosti that Serbia should not expect any special treatment from the new U.S. administration. “The policies will be the same, only the style will be a little different. America will be less arrogant, and more prepared to listen to and hear what the world has to say. As far as Serbia is concerned, Obama’s stance is the same as McCain’s and the former administration’s,” Kovacevic warned. He said that Kosovo was a done deal as far as Obama was concerned. “The new administration believes that new talks should not be opened, neither at international level, nor between Serbia and Kosovo. Obama supports dialogue in Kosovo between the Serbian communities and the government in Pristina, and for the Serbian government to show understanding for the new reality. Kosovo and Serbia are not even among the new administration’s top 20 priorities,” Kovacevic said. He said that Washington would not mind if Serbia did not recognize Kosovo, but expected Belgrade to have some kind of contact with the Kosovo government, especially regarding the protection of Serbs and cultural and religious buildings. Kovacevic said that Obama had created a so-called team of rivals, including one founder of the Serbian caucus in Congress, his White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emmanuel, and Kosovo supporters like Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. “Personal appointments are important, but are not crucial. Obama will decide on everything in the end,” Kovacevic concluded.

“No change in U.S.-Serbia relations”

“We will assist in strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnership relations by supporting Serbia on its European Union pathway, its participation in the NATO Partnership for Peace program, and bilateral military cooperation with the Ohio National Guard,” Munter says in a text for Belgrade daily Politika, published on Tuesday.

He says that the U.S. will also assist Serbia by providing a better economic climate, new investment and growth in the economic sector; by contributing to the strengthening of an independent judiciary and parliament; and by promoting a more transparent political and electoral system, a stronger civil sector and independent media.

“We will promote Serbia’s stability by helping develop a modern, effective and transparent security structure,” adds Munter.

Assessing that relations between Serbia and the US are richer, multi-dimensional and, for the most part, successful, he adds that in spite of the fact that relations are still frayed over the Kosovo issue, that fact should not cast a shadow on what is generally a good relationship.

“U.S. support for an independent Kosovo will not change with the arrival of the new administration,” he stresses.

“We therefore have to accept the fact that we disagree over one issue and, at the same time, we have to continue implementing a constructive partnership that will be to Serbia’s benefit,” Munter surmises.

Emphasizing that the U.S., under Obama, will continue to hold out the hand of friendship to Serbia to promote a brighter future for the Serbian people, the ambassador states: “As an American, a diplomat and U.S. ambassador, I am looking forward to serving in the Obama administration. There is no better time to be a citizen or friend of the United States. I hope that the Serbian people share my enthusiasm.”

In the article, written to coincide with Obama being sworn in tomorrow as the 44th U.S. president, Munter writes that the Americans elected Obama, with his unique biography and exceptional credentials, because they want the country to take a new course.

Kosovo "done deal"

The change promised by Barack Obama in his campaign will not be reflected much in the U.S.’s relations with Serbia, one expert says.

Živorad Kovačević, the long-time president of the European Movement in Serbia and the former Yugoslav ambassador to the U.S., told daily Večernje Novosti that Serbia should not expect any special treatment from the new U.S. administration.

“The policies will be the same, only the style will be a little different. America will be less arrogant, and more prepared to listen to and hear what the world has to say. As far as Serbia is concerned, Obama’s stance is the same as McCain’s and the former administration’s,” Kovačević warned.

He said that Kosovo was a done deal as far as Obama was concerned.

“The new administration believes that new talks should not be opened, neither at international level, nor between Serbia and Kosovo. Obama supports dialogue in Kosovo between the Serbian communities and the government in Priština, and for the Serbian government to show understanding for the new reality. Kosovo and Serbia are not even among the new administration’s top 20 priorities,” Kovačević said.

He said that Washington would not mind if Serbia did not recognize Kosovo, but expected Belgrade to have some kind of contact with the Kosovo government, especially regarding the protection of Serbs and cultural and religious buildings.

Kovačević said that Obama had created a so-called team of rivals, including one founder of the Serbian caucus in Congress, his White House Chief-of-Staff Rahm Emmanuel, and Kosovo supporters like Vice President Joseph Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

“Personal appointments are important, but are not crucial. Obama will decide on everything in the end,” Kovačević concluded.