No layoffs at U.S. Steel, says ambassador

U.S. Steel's Serbian operation in Smederevo will not be sacking workers, U.S. Ambassador Cameron Munter told B92 in an interview. Munter also said that the world economic crisis has taken its toll on the eastern Serbia steel plant owned by the Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel, citing a lower demand for the product as the reason. No layoffs at U.S. Steel, says ambassador Despite this, the ambassador stated that he had been informed that the management does not plan layoffs in Smederevo. American businesses are generally satisfied with their experience in Serbia, he continued, but said that considering the ongoing crisis, it is not possible to talk about whether or not there would be new investments. Munter said he "welcomed" the U.S. Steel decision to keep the workers in Smederevo despite a slowdown in the factory's production, but added that "we cannot know how sustainable this will be". He also commented on the recent voting in the Serbian parliament when amendments to the Law on Excises passed, to say that it "worried" him, since it put Serbia in a position to change the deals it has with large companies and investors such as U.S. Philip Morris cigarette-maker. Speaking about Kosovo, Munter repeated that his country's position remains that "Kosovo is independent and that this status will not change". He rejected claims that he is pressuring the government in Belgrade to start dialogue with Pristina, but said that it is "necessary to establish good relations". The ambassador said that "it is clear to us this needs to be done carefully, especially bearing in mind what we spoke about earlier", and urged focusing on the people who live in Kosovo. He advised that Serbia, "which advocates cooperation with EULEX", engages in talks with this mission "on all the details of the life of people in Kosovo and see how it [Serbia] can play a constructive role". Munter said that he thinks all the regional countries aspire to join the EU, and that "we believe this is not possible unless you cooperate". He added that his country supports such cooperation "in order for everyone to be successful". According to this diplomat, whether or not this dialogue will be a condition for Serbia to become an EU member "will be decided by Brussels". As for Washington, Munter continued, it sees the Balkans "as a zone where borders won't be important and where cooperation of neighbors must be established, which includes good relations between Serbia and Kosovo as independent states".

No layoffs at U.S. Steel, says ambassador

Despite this, the ambassador stated that he had been informed that the management does not plan layoffs in Smederevo.

American businesses are generally satisfied with their experience in Serbia, he continued, but said that considering the ongoing crisis, it is not possible to talk about whether or not there would be new investments.

Munter said he "welcomed" the U.S. Steel decision to keep the workers in Smederevo despite a slowdown in the factory's production, but added that "we cannot know how sustainable this will be".

He also commented on the recent voting in the Serbian parliament when amendments to the Law on Excises passed, to say that it "worried" him, since it put Serbia in a position to change the deals it has with large companies and investors such as U.S. Philip Morris cigarette-maker.

Speaking about Kosovo, Munter repeated that his country's position remains that "Kosovo is independent and that this status will not change".

He rejected claims that he is pressuring the government in Belgrade to start dialogue with Priština, but said that it is "necessary to establish good relations".

The ambassador said that "it is clear to us this needs to be done carefully, especially bearing in mind what we spoke about earlier", and urged focusing on the people who live in Kosovo.

He advised that Serbia, "which advocates cooperation with EULEX", engages in talks with this mission "on all the details of the life of people in Kosovo and see how it [Serbia] can play a constructive role".

Munter said that he thinks all the regional countries aspire to join the EU, and that "we believe this is not possible unless you cooperate".

He added that his country supports such cooperation "in order for everyone to be successful".

According to this diplomat, whether or not this dialogue will be a condition for Serbia to become an EU member "will be decided by Brussels".

As for Washington, Munter continued, it sees the Balkans "as a zone where borders won't be important and where cooperation of neighbors must be established, which includes good relations between Serbia and Kosovo as independent states".