U.S. State Department official due to arrive in Belgrade

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg will arrive in Belgrade tonight for a two-day visit. During the visit, he is set to "convey to Serbia's officials Washington's support to the country's European aspiration and the U.S. government's readiness to cooperation with Belgrade on strengthening stability in the region". U.S. State Department official due to arrive in Belgrade Steinberg will also encourage the local authorities to cooperation with Pristina in resolving practical issues, Tanjug has learned at the U.S. embassy. Ahead of his visit, Steinberg said in Washington that he was encouraged by the progress Serbia made in the process of European integrations last year, including the visa regime liberalization and Serbia's application for the EU membership, as well as by receiving assurances of Serbian officials that the country is aware of the importance of its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal. Steinberg started his tour of the region with the visit to Ljubljana on April 6 and Sarajevo on April 6-7. After his meetings in Belgrade, the U.S. diplomat will leave for Pristina, which is the last leg of his tour. In Ljubljana on Tuesday, he met with Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor to discuss the situation in the Western Balkans. Steinberg voiced support for the "Brdo process", launched by the Western Balkan heads of state at the recently held conference at Brdo near Kranj. Along with other countries, the U.S. is trying to regulate relations in the region after it became clear the Dayton Peace Accords had achieved peace, but not prosperity and stability in the region, the Slovenian prime minister said after the meeting. "Both then and today, the U.S. played an important role in the region and that role should be appreciated," Pahor said, according to news agency STA. Steinberg stressed that Slovenia "has not only been using, but rather also contributing to security" as a "successful and democratic society," and has been providing leadership and been an important partner to the U.S. in facing various challenges for many years now. Important proof of that cooperation and support, as he put it, is also the leadership Pahor has taken in solving the problems of Western Balkan states. Steinberg thanked Pahor for his assessment and knowledge of and insight into the situation in the region, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointing out that the U.S. firmly supports the process initiated at Brdo near Kranju.

U.S. State Department official due to arrive in Belgrade

Steinberg will also encourage the local authorities to cooperation with Priština in resolving practical issues, Tanjug has learned at the U.S. embassy.

Ahead of his visit, Steinberg said in Washington that he was encouraged by the progress Serbia made in the process of European integrations last year, including the visa regime liberalization and Serbia's application for the EU membership, as well as by receiving assurances of Serbian officials that the country is aware of the importance of its cooperation with the Hague Tribunal.

Steinberg started his tour of the region with the visit to Ljubljana on April 6 and Sarajevo on April 6-7.

After his meetings in Belgrade, the U.S. diplomat will leave for Priština, which is the last leg of his tour.

In Ljubljana on Tuesday, he met with Slovenian Prime Minister Borut Pahor to discuss the situation in the Western Balkans.

Steinberg voiced support for the "Brdo process", launched by the Western Balkan heads of state at the recently held conference at Brdo near Kranj.

Along with other countries, the U.S. is trying to regulate relations in the region after it became clear the Dayton Peace Accords had achieved peace, but not prosperity and stability in the region, the Slovenian prime minister said after the meeting.

"Both then and today, the U.S. played an important role in the region and that role should be appreciated," Pahor said, according to news agency STA.

Steinberg stressed that Slovenia "has not only been using, but rather also contributing to security" as a "successful and democratic society," and has been providing leadership and been an important partner to the U.S. in facing various challenges for many years now.

Important proof of that cooperation and support, as he put it, is also the leadership Pahor has taken in solving the problems of Western Balkan states.

Steinberg thanked Pahor for his assessment and knowledge of and insight into the situation in the region, particularly in Bosnia and Herzegovina, pointing out that the U.S. firmly supports the process initiated at Brdo near Kranju.