U.S. wants Serbia in EU, NATO, ambassador says

The U.S. remains committed to supporting Serbia’s European integration, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Mary Warlick has said. “Serbia has made great progress in internal reforms,” she told daily Kurir. U.S. wants Serbia in EU, NATO, ambassador says The U.S. ambassador added that she was looking forward to realizing Serbia’s endeavors to reach economic prosperity, complete the EU integrations and take over a role of the regional leader together with the Serbian democratic government. Commenting on statements that relations between Serbia and the U.S. have considerably improved since she was appointed the U.S. ambassador in Belgrade, Warlick said that U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration had pointed out it wanted to get through to the Balkan countries. “Vice President Biden visited the region during one of his first travels and clearly said that we strongly support Serbia’s European aspirations as well as Croatia’s EU accession and that we want to build strong relations in various ways. We can agree to disagree on some issues but that is not an obstacle for some other areas,” she explained. According to her, it would be good for Serbia to join NATO because it is the most powerful security organization in the world which has brought benefits to all members and countries in the region when it comes to security, safety and prosperity. “Decisions that have to do with the NATO membership are up to the Serbian government and the people but we are convinced that it is an advantage to be a part of such organization. Serbia’s participation in Partnership for Peace and peacekeeping operations shows its commitment to the global peace and security. A key message is that a door to the NATO membership is open and I am sure that Serbia will be welcome the moment it decides to join,” the ambassador stressed. Warlick added that the U.S. continued to support Serbia’s EU integration, pointing out that EU member states had various opinions. “It seems that the European Commission’s opinion in October showed that Serbia made progress in internal reforms and achieving cooperation with The Hague. Those are very important achievements and steps that have been made. You also know that the EU highly appreciates good neighborly relations and Serbia has made progress there. It is important to continue the progress and to improve relations with Kosovo. We can see that the dialogue under the EU auspices is bringing certain progress. There is still more work to be done. Obtaining of the candidate status is a decision that the EU member states should make and I am convinced that it is in Serbia’s best interest to stay committed to its path and ensure that all regional problems are solved,” Warlick concluded. Mary Warlick (FoNet, file)

U.S. wants Serbia in EU, NATO, ambassador says

The U.S. ambassador added that she was looking forward to realizing Serbia’s endeavors to reach economic prosperity, complete the EU integrations and take over a role of the regional leader together with the Serbian democratic government.

Commenting on statements that relations between Serbia and the U.S. have considerably improved since she was appointed the U.S. ambassador in Belgrade, Warlick said that U.S. President Barack Obama’s administration had pointed out it wanted to get through to the Balkan countries.

“Vice President Biden visited the region during one of his first travels and clearly said that we strongly support Serbia’s European aspirations as well as Croatia’s EU accession and that we want to build strong relations in various ways. We can agree to disagree on some issues but that is not an obstacle for some other areas,” she explained.

According to her, it would be good for Serbia to join NATO because it is the most powerful security organization in the world which has brought benefits to all members and countries in the region when it comes to security, safety and prosperity.

“Decisions that have to do with the NATO membership are up to the Serbian government and the people but we are convinced that it is an advantage to be a part of such organization. Serbia’s participation in Partnership for Peace and peacekeeping operations shows its commitment to the global peace and security. A key message is that a door to the NATO membership is open and I am sure that Serbia will be welcome the moment it decides to join,” the ambassador stressed.

Warlick added that the U.S. continued to support Serbia’s EU integration, pointing out that EU member states had various opinions.

“It seems that the European Commission’s opinion in October showed that Serbia made progress in internal reforms and achieving cooperation with The Hague. Those are very important achievements and steps that have been made. You also know that the EU highly appreciates good neighborly relations and Serbia has made progress there. It is important to continue the progress and to improve relations with Kosovo. We can see that the dialogue under the EU auspices is bringing certain progress. There is still more work to be done. Obtaining of the candidate status is a decision that the EU member states should make and I am convinced that it is in Serbia’s best interest to stay committed to its path and ensure that all regional problems are solved,” Warlick concluded.