U.S. ambassador: Serbia should move toward EU

Washington wants to help the Serb people, but the future government must be open for such cooperation, U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade Cameron Munter says.

Izvor: Beta

Sunday, 01.06.2008.

13:25

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Washington wants to help the Serb people, but the future government must be open for such cooperation, U.S. Ambassador to Belgrade Cameron Munter says. The American diplomat told the daily Vecernje Novosti that he is convinced Serbia's decision to move toward Europe would be a way to secure stability in the Balkans, and added he doubted a different outcome. U.S. ambassador: Serbia should move toward EU "I expect a time when we will be able to work with the pro-European parties and a pro-European government in Serbia. There is plenty of common ground that we could work on and I truly believe that it will be so, because the people in this country have clearly stated their preference in the elections," the newspaper quoted Munter as saying. The ambassador continued that while his country wished to engage in economic cooperation, as well as in the sectors of culture and education, he was "skeptical that this could be realized if a Kostunica-Seselj government were to be formed". "I wonder, can we achieve all these things we believe the people of Serbia deserve with this government," Munter said. As for the possibility that the Socialists (SPS) might join the cabinet, he said "conversations with the party's officials indicate that they too seek a European future, which is a U.S. desire as well". "The point of working with a pro-European government, even if it does include the Socialists, is this: we have plenty of work to do and while there's the will to solve problems, we can work together," Munter continued. As for the diplomatic relations between his country and Serbia after the U.S. recognized the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, Munter said that while he had no chance to meet with high officials in Belgrade, he did travel and speak to businessmen and municipal presidents. The ambassador told the daily that they said the people in Serbia wish to be a part of Europe and friends with the European states and the U.S. Munter also dismissed claims made by some European politicians that their countries were forced to recognize Kosovo under strong American pressure.

U.S. ambassador: Serbia should move toward EU

"I expect a time when we will be able to work with the pro-European parties and a pro-European government in Serbia. There is plenty of common ground that we could work on and I truly believe that it will be so, because the people in this country have clearly stated their preference in the elections," the newspaper quoted Munter as saying.

The ambassador continued that while his country wished to engage in economic cooperation, as well as in the sectors of culture and education, he was "skeptical that this could be realized if a Koštunica-Šešelj government were to be formed".

"I wonder, can we achieve all these things we believe the people of Serbia deserve with this government," Munter said.

As for the possibility that the Socialists (SPS) might join the cabinet, he said "conversations with the party's officials indicate that they too seek a European future, which is a U.S. desire as well".

"The point of working with a pro-European government, even if it does include the Socialists, is this: we have plenty of work to do and while there's the will to solve problems, we can work together," Munter continued.

As for the diplomatic relations between his country and Serbia after the U.S. recognized the Kosovo Albanians' unilateral declaration of independence, Munter said that while he had no chance to meet with high officials in Belgrade, he did travel and speak to businessmen and municipal presidents.

The ambassador told the daily that they said the people in Serbia wish to be a part of Europe and friends with the European states and the U.S.

Munter also dismissed claims made by some European politicians that their countries were forced to recognize Kosovo under strong American pressure.

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