U.S.-Balkans summit without Serbia

A two-day conference of political and business leaders of the Western Balkans begins in Baltimore.

Izvor: Tanjug

Wednesday, 23.03.2011.

10:45

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A two-day conference of political and business leaders of the Western Balkans begins in Baltimore. The aim of the summit is to help strengthen the cooperation of the Western Balkan countries, their economic ties with the U.S., and help them follow the European course, said organizers - the state of Maryland, on behalf of the U.S. Administration. U.S.-Balkans summit without Serbia Serbia is not taking part in the conference, consistent with the country's policy not to attend gatherings at which the Kosovo Albanian authorities are treated as representatives of an independent state. Montenegrin President Filip Vijanovic, member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Bakir Izetbegovic, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski and Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Mimoza Kusari confirmed their attendance. U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Thomas Countryman assessed at the beginning of March that, by refusing to take part in the summit in Baltimore, Serbia sent a wrong message and disappointed Washington. Head of the Belgrade team for the dialogue with Pristina Borko Stefanovic stated that Serbia's participation in the summit would undermine the country's policy on Kosovo and Metohija. "We have long discussed with our American partners the issue of the summit, all the while trying to find a format which would enable Serbia's efficient participation. At the beginning everything seemed fine, but unfortunately for us, things changed to our detriment," he underscored. Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence three years ago, but Belgrade rejected the move as an illegal act of secession.

U.S.-Balkans summit without Serbia

Serbia is not taking part in the conference, consistent with the country's policy not to attend gatherings at which the Kosovo Albanian authorities are treated as representatives of an independent state.

Montenegrin President Filip Vijanović, member of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Presidency Bakir Izetbegović, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski and Kosovo Deputy Prime Minister Mimoza Kusari confirmed their attendance.

U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Thomas Countryman assessed at the beginning of March that, by refusing to take part in the summit in Baltimore, Serbia sent a wrong message and disappointed Washington.

Head of the Belgrade team for the dialogue with Priština Borko Stefanović stated that Serbia's participation in the summit would undermine the country's policy on Kosovo and Metohija.

"We have long discussed with our American partners the issue of the summit, all the while trying to find a format which would enable Serbia's efficient participation. At the beginning everything seemed fine, but unfortunately for us, things changed to our detriment," he underscored.

Kosovo's ethnic Albanians unilaterally declared independence three years ago, but Belgrade rejected the move as an illegal act of secession.

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