Munter: Serbia's European future

U.S. Ambassador to Serbia Cameron Munter says Serbia's leadership has understanding for the EU mission's role in Kosovo. Speaking about the EULEX deployment, Munter told Belgrade's Vecernje Novosti daily in an interview published on Sunday that "at some point in the future there will be a way to acknowledge at the UN Security Council that it is in line with Resolution 1244". Munter: Serbia's European future "The UN secretary-general is leading this process in a way which we believe will lead to a peaceful deployment of the mission in Kosovo. We believe that the leadership of Serbia has understanding for the EULEX role," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Munter added that 80 U.S. policemen and eight judges and prosecutors that will be taking part in the EU mission are "a technical group that is taking care that Kosovo is stable, that all citizens' rights are respected, be they Kosovo Albanians or Serbs". "People that will be in this mission, beside being support for the Europeans, will be those whom we believe will be able to contribute to Kosovo's stability and the stability in the region. That is our main priority. That's why we're there." The U.S. diplomat also said he saw no contradiction in statements that EULEX will be in line with Resolution 1244 which confirms Serbia's sovereignty, and Assistant U.S. State Secretary Daniel Fried's comment that the deployment of EULEX is an element of Kosovo's supervised independence. "Taking parts of that document and this quote, I think you're missing the ultimate effect of this mission that is consistent with Resolution 1244 which includes building the rule of law," Munter told Vecernje Novosti. He also said there was "no doubt EULEX is a legal mission under Resolution 1244 framework", while the U.S. believes that the UN secretary-general's instructions on UNMIK's reconfiguration, as well as the rules for this European body, are important steps to make the mission effective in the field and accepted by the people who live in Kosovo. The U.S. ambassador also said that his country "will remain dedicated to Serbia's progress and her European future", regardless of the results of the American presidential elections in early November, and reminded that both candidates support Kosovo's independence. Munter also said that notwithstanding the global financial and economic meltdown, Serbia's government's reform path could be "a magnet for American investments". "If Serbia continues on the reform path, if your government and parliament adopt laws that concern trade, property, taxing and which lead to institutionalized changes, it could become a place of exceptional stability and all the more attractive," according to this diplomat. "It's a paradox, but in that case American investment could arrive here even in a time of global crisis," Munter believes. The U.S. ambassador also said that the United States "did not single out Montenegro" from other states which they "very much encouraged" to recognize the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration. Washington did this, Munter explained, because it believes that "recognition leads to stability needed in this region".

Munter: Serbia's European future

"The UN secretary-general is leading this process in a way which we believe will lead to a peaceful deployment of the mission in Kosovo. We believe that the leadership of Serbia has understanding for the EULEX role," he was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Munter added that 80 U.S. policemen and eight judges and prosecutors that will be taking part in the EU mission are "a technical group that is taking care that Kosovo is stable, that all citizens' rights are respected, be they Kosovo Albanians or Serbs".

"People that will be in this mission, beside being support for the Europeans, will be those whom we believe will be able to contribute to Kosovo's stability and the stability in the region. That is our main priority. That's why we're there."

The U.S. diplomat also said he saw no contradiction in statements that EULEX will be in line with Resolution 1244 which confirms Serbia's sovereignty, and Assistant U.S. State Secretary Daniel Fried's comment that the deployment of EULEX is an element of Kosovo's supervised independence.

"Taking parts of that document and this quote, I think you're missing the ultimate effect of this mission that is consistent with Resolution 1244 which includes building the rule of law," Munter told Večernje Novosti.

He also said there was "no doubt EULEX is a legal mission under Resolution 1244 framework", while the U.S. believes that the UN secretary-general's instructions on UNMIK's reconfiguration, as well as the rules for this European body, are important steps to make the mission effective in the field and accepted by the people who live in Kosovo.

The U.S. ambassador also said that his country "will remain dedicated to Serbia's progress and her European future", regardless of the results of the American presidential elections in early November, and reminded that both candidates support Kosovo's independence.

Munter also said that notwithstanding the global financial and economic meltdown, Serbia's government's reform path could be "a magnet for American investments".

"If Serbia continues on the reform path, if your government and parliament adopt laws that concern trade, property, taxing and which lead to institutionalized changes, it could become a place of exceptional stability and all the more attractive," according to this diplomat.

"It's a paradox, but in that case American investment could arrive here even in a time of global crisis," Munter believes.

The U.S. ambassador also said that the United States "did not single out Montenegro" from other states which they "very much encouraged" to recognize the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration.

Washington did this, Munter explained, because it believes that "recognition leads to stability needed in this region".