State Dept.: Kosovo will overcome challenges

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Daniel Fried says that “the youngest state in Europe” faces numerous challenges. “Kosovo is independent and faces several challenges: the construction of a new state based on law with strong democratic institutions, with friendly relations with its neighbors and an irrepressible movement towards the EU,” said Fried after a meeting with Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu. State Dept.: Kosovo will overcome challenges The American diplomat said that Kosovo should reject any form of nationalism and hatred. Answering a question relating to statements from Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin about a possible partition of Kosovo, he said that he did not believe in any division. “More than half the Serbs live below the river Ibar. In the North we are faced with problems that will take some time to solve, but I don’t want to get involved in such statements.” The American diplomat added that “Kosovo independence is a fact,” and that “some forms of behavior by the Serbian government are worrying, but that Kosovo’s leaders have reacted in a mature way.” He said Serbia deserved a European future, as the victory of Boris Tadic, leader of the Democratic Party (DS), at the presidential elections had proved. “However, it is up to the Serbs to decide which future they want,” said Fried. The U.S. deputy secretary of state said that the transition process would be complicated and required coordination between the UN and EU, but that it remained the task of Kosovo’s institutions to construct functional institutions, and that it should not focus on power issues between the UN, EU and others. “According to Resolution 1244, UNMIK will remain in a certain capacity, but it is up to the EU and UN to settle that. The task of Kosovo’s leaders is to construct a state, because Kosovo is now a state,” said Fried. President Sejdiu expressed his gratitude to the USA for its engagement and help for Kosovo. Kosovo’s president said that Kosovo would be a state of equal citizens. Kosovo will commit itself to developing friendly relations with all the countries in the region and will work towards quick Euro-Atlantic integration. Sejdiu said that the authorities were cooperating superbly with all the international factors in the transition process. Today Fried will also meet Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Speaker Jakup Krasniqi.

State Dept.: Kosovo will overcome challenges

The American diplomat said that Kosovo should reject any form of nationalism and hatred.

Answering a question relating to statements from Russian UN ambassador Vitaly Churkin about a possible partition of Kosovo, he said that he did not believe in any division.

“More than half the Serbs live below the river Ibar. In the North we are faced with problems that will take some time to solve, but I don’t want to get involved in such statements.”

The American diplomat added that “Kosovo independence is a fact,” and that “some forms of behavior by the Serbian government are worrying, but that Kosovo’s leaders have reacted in a mature way.” He said Serbia deserved a European future, as the victory of Boris Tadić, leader of the Democratic Party (DS), at the presidential elections had proved.

“However, it is up to the Serbs to decide which future they want,” said Fried.

The U.S. deputy secretary of state said that the transition process would be complicated and required coordination between the UN and EU, but that it remained the task of Kosovo’s institutions to construct functional institutions, and that it should not focus on power issues between the UN, EU and others.

“According to Resolution 1244, UNMIK will remain in a certain capacity, but it is up to the EU and UN to settle that. The task of Kosovo’s leaders is to construct a state, because Kosovo is now a state,” said Fried.

President Sejdiu expressed his gratitude to the USA for its engagement and help for Kosovo.

Kosovo’s president said that Kosovo would be a state of equal citizens.

Kosovo will commit itself to developing friendly relations with all the countries in the region and will work towards quick Euro-Atlantic integration.

Sejdiu said that the authorities were cooperating superbly with all the international factors in the transition process.

Today Fried will also meet Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci and Speaker Jakup Krasniqi.