U.S. official visits Belgrade

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg arrived in Belgrade in the evening on April 7 as part of his Balkan tour. The American official met this morning with First Deputy PM and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic. U.S. official visits Belgrade Dacic and Steinberg discussed the political situation in Serbia and cooperation of the two countries in fight against crime in Belgrade on Thursday. The Serbian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) said in a statement after the meeting that Dacic told the American official that the government of Serbia is stable and that all the coalition partners wish to sustain the government by the end of the mandate. During the meeting, Dacic and Steinberg expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of MUP and U.S. security agencies in fight against organized crime and terrorism, and added that the practice of good cooperation should be continued. Dacic said that Serbia has good cooperation with the countries from the region, which is the main precondition for successful fight against crime. He also stressed that the MUP wants to have good cooperation with representatives of international community in Kosovo and Metohija, KFOR, UNMIK and EULEKS, because Serbia's goal is to preserve peace and secure the safety of all the residents in Kosovo. The two officials also discussed the participation of members of MUP in EU peacekeeping missions and the increase in number of Serbian policemen in the mission in Haiti. Dacic also thanked the U.S. Embassy, which supports the work of MUP through a number of projects. Steinberg told Tanjug in an interview today that Serbia is a "critical partner" for the United States in the region. The relations between the United States of America and Serbia are excellent, Steinberg evaluated. He underlined that his visit to the Balkans represents a support to the leaders in the region for the building of their joint European future. "We view Serbia as critical partner for the United States in the region," the ranking U.S. official said, and added that the U.S. strongly backs Serbia on its path toward membership in the EU and the World Trade Organization. He pointed in particular to the good cooperation between the two countries in terms of regional issues, as well as in the field of defence and police cooperation. The U.S. official expressed satisfaction over the efforts Serbia and its president are making in the resolution of outstanding issues in the region and in the building of Serbia's European future. Steinberg in particular welcomed the adoption of the Declaration on the condemnation of the crime in Srebrenica. Speaking about Kosovo, Steinberg said that despite the different positions Washington and Belgrade have in respect of the issue of status, the United States is committed to the resolution of practical matters relating to the people in Kosovo. Also today in Belgrade, the Serbian president's press service confirmed for Tanjug that Steinberg met with Serbian President Boris Tadic on Wednesday evening. In a statement to Beta news agency, ahead of the meeting today, U.S. Embassy in Belgrade said after last year's visit of U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, Steinberg will confirm Washington's support to Serbia's EU integration, cooperation in strengthening regional stability and encourage cooperation with Kosovo in resolving practical issues. In Sarajevo on April 7, Steinberg said he would tell Tadic that Washington welcomes parliament's declaration condemning the crime in Srebrenica, adding that the U.S. appreciates such a position as it demonstrates Serbia's commitment to its EU path. Steinberg was also in Slovenia and Bosnia, and will conclude the tour in Pristina. Steinberg, Dacic meet in Belgrade (Tanjug)

U.S. official visits Belgrade

Dačić and Steinberg discussed the political situation in Serbia and cooperation of the two countries in fight against crime in Belgrade on Thursday.

The Serbian Ministry of the Interior (MUP) said in a statement after the meeting that Dačić told the American official that the government of Serbia is stable and that all the coalition partners wish to sustain the government by the end of the mandate.

During the meeting, Dačić and Steinberg expressed satisfaction with the cooperation of MUP and U.S. security agencies in fight against organized crime and terrorism, and added that the practice of good cooperation should be continued.

Dačić said that Serbia has good cooperation with the countries from the region, which is the main precondition for successful fight against crime.

He also stressed that the MUP wants to have good cooperation with representatives of international community in Kosovo and Metohija, KFOR, UNMIK and EULEKS, because Serbia's goal is to preserve peace and secure the safety of all the residents in Kosovo.

The two officials also discussed the participation of members of MUP in EU peacekeeping missions and the increase in number of Serbian policemen in the mission in Haiti. Dačić also thanked the U.S. Embassy, which supports the work of MUP through a number of projects.

Steinberg told Tanjug in an interview today that Serbia is a "critical partner" for the United States in the region.

The relations between the United States of America and Serbia are excellent, Steinberg evaluated.

He underlined that his visit to the Balkans represents a support to the leaders in the region for the building of their joint European future.

"We view Serbia as critical partner for the United States in the region," the ranking U.S. official said, and added that the U.S. strongly backs Serbia on its path toward membership in the EU and the World Trade Organization.

He pointed in particular to the good cooperation between the two countries in terms of regional issues, as well as in the field of defence and police cooperation.

The U.S. official expressed satisfaction over the efforts Serbia and its president are making in the resolution of outstanding issues in the region and in the building of Serbia's European future.

Steinberg in particular welcomed the adoption of the Declaration on the condemnation of the crime in Srebrenica.

Speaking about Kosovo, Steinberg said that despite the different positions Washington and Belgrade have in respect of the issue of status, the United States is committed to the resolution of practical matters relating to the people in Kosovo.

Also today in Belgrade, the Serbian president's press service confirmed for Tanjug that Steinberg met with Serbian President Boris Tadić on Wednesday evening.

In a statement to Beta news agency, ahead of the meeting today, U.S. Embassy in Belgrade said after last year's visit of U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, Steinberg will confirm Washington's support to Serbia's EU integration, cooperation in strengthening regional stability and encourage cooperation with Kosovo in resolving practical issues.

In Sarajevo on April 7, Steinberg said he would tell Tadić that Washington welcomes parliament's declaration condemning the crime in Srebrenica, adding that the U.S. appreciates such a position as it demonstrates Serbia's commitment to its EU path.

Steinberg was also in Slovenia and Bosnia, and will conclude the tour in Priština.