Steinberg visits Serb enclave in Kosovo

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg was in the Serb enclave of Gracanica on Thursday. There, according to reports, he stated that "it was time to find a solution for the economic and social problems", underscoring that political issues had been "left for a later time". Steinberg visits Serb enclave in Kosovo At the end of his visit to Kosovo, Steinberg met with representatives of the three "newly formed" municipalities populated mainly by Serbs - Gracanica, Ranilug and Klokot - Bojan Stojanovic, Gradimir Mikic and Sasa Markovic. Steinberg underscored that it was "important that changes took place in the spirit and way of conducting talks and that they are now all focused on solving practical issues". "We agreed to have more talks on education and social services," said Steinberg, adding that economic and social progress is needed for a better future in Kosovo. Before meeting municipality representatives, Steinberg visited the medieval Serb Orthodox Monastery of Gracanica, where he met with Episcope of Lipljan Teodosije and Archdeacon Sava. Earlier on Thursday, Steinberg said in Pristina that the U.S. supports the development of Kosovo, pointing out that his country considers Kosovo "a friend". The U.S. official met in with Kosovo Albanian President Famir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, and other officials, including presidents of three newly formed municipalities with a majority Serb population, Tanjug said. After his meeting with Sejdiu, Steinberg said that the U.S. had "special ties to the people in Kosovo" and that was "firmly committed to Kosovo's progress towards the EU and visa liberalization". Steinberg and Kosovo officials also discussed "the importance of building good neighborly relations", said reports. "We are working on the challenges. We want to overcome the difficulties that are still present between Serbia and Kosovo," Steinberg said. The visit to the province concluded Steinberg's tour of the Balkans, during which he also visited Ljubljana, Sarajevo and Belgrade. While in Belgrade, the U.S. official was interviewed by B92 TV. The full transcript of the interview is available here. Steinberg, center, in Gracanica (Beta)

Steinberg visits Serb enclave in Kosovo

At the end of his visit to Kosovo, Steinberg met with representatives of the three "newly formed" municipalities populated mainly by Serbs - Gračanica, Ranilug and Klokot - Bojan Stojanović, Gradimir Mikić and Saša Marković.

Steinberg underscored that it was "important that changes took place in the spirit and way of conducting talks and that they are now all focused on solving practical issues".

"We agreed to have more talks on education and social services," said Steinberg, adding that economic and social progress is needed for a better future in Kosovo.

Before meeting municipality representatives, Steinberg visited the medieval Serb Orthodox Monastery of Gračanica, where he met with Episcope of Lipljan Teodosije and Archdeacon Sava.

Earlier on Thursday, Steinberg said in Priština that the U.S. supports the development of Kosovo, pointing out that his country considers Kosovo "a friend".

The U.S. official met in with Kosovo Albanian President Famir Sejdiu, Prime Minister Hashim Thaci, and other officials, including presidents of three newly formed municipalities with a majority Serb population, Tanjug said.

After his meeting with Sejdiu, Steinberg said that the U.S. had "special ties to the people in Kosovo" and that was "firmly committed to Kosovo's progress towards the EU and visa liberalization".

Steinberg and Kosovo officials also discussed "the importance of building good neighborly relations", said reports.

"We are working on the challenges. We want to overcome the difficulties that are still present between Serbia and Kosovo," Steinberg said.

The visit to the province concluded Steinberg's tour of the Balkans, during which he also visited Ljubljana, Sarajevo and Belgrade.

While in Belgrade, the U.S. official was interviewed by B92 TV. The full transcript of the interview is available here.