U.S. envoy says Priština makes "sovereign decisions"

Pristina's decision to send police to the north of take control of checkpoints "was not made in coordination with the international community or the U.S.". This is according to U.S. Ambassador in Belgrade Mary Warlick. U.S. envoy says Pristina makes "sovereign decisions" In an exclusive interview for the Sunday edition of the Belgrade-based Press tabloid, entitled "Thaci Has No U.S. Support", Warlick said that that decision was made solely by Pristina and that the United States expresses regret for all that happened last week in Kosovo. She said that after the American soldiers from the ranks of KFOR took control of the administrative posts in northern Kosovo, "it is now in everyone's interest to re-establish peace and stability and that both sides sit down again to the negotiating table and find a sustainable solution that will enable free movement of goods and people". There has been too much speculation in recent days about the events in Kosovo, she said. "The government of Kosovo has been independent since February 2008, and it makes sovereign decisions. From time to time, it consults with international partners, including the U.S., but it is a country that makes its own decisions," Warlick was quoted as saying. The U.S. has confidence that KFOR can provide stability and security and believes that it has the full support of officials from Pristina and Belgrade, she said. Both KFOR and EULEX have a strong mandate in Kosovo, she noted. As regards further course of negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, Warlick said she was "still optimistic, despite the difficult times in the past few days". "The negotiation process will continue in September, and hopefully, once the situation stabilizes, the two sides should be able to reach an agreement on customs seals and other issues, in respect of which they were close to an agreement," the ambassador said, and according to the newspaper asserted that a solution of customs seals issue "should allow the free flow of goods for the first time in recent years."

U.S. envoy says Priština makes "sovereign decisions"

In an exclusive interview for the Sunday edition of the Belgrade-based Press tabloid, entitled "Thaci Has No U.S. Support", Warlick said that that decision was made solely by Priština and that the United States expresses regret for all that happened last week in Kosovo.

She said that after the American soldiers from the ranks of KFOR took control of the administrative posts in northern Kosovo, "it is now in everyone's interest to re-establish peace and stability and that both sides sit down again to the negotiating table and find a sustainable solution that will enable free movement of goods and people".

There has been too much speculation in recent days about the events in Kosovo, she said.

"The government of Kosovo has been independent since February 2008, and it makes sovereign decisions. From time to time, it consults with international partners, including the U.S., but it is a country that makes its own decisions," Warlick was quoted as saying.

The U.S. has confidence that KFOR can provide stability and security and believes that it has the full support of officials from Priština and Belgrade, she said.

Both KFOR and EULEX have a strong mandate in Kosovo, she noted.

As regards further course of negotiations between Belgrade and Priština, Warlick said she was "still optimistic, despite the difficult times in the past few days".

"The negotiation process will continue in September, and hopefully, once the situation stabilizes, the two sides should be able to reach an agreement on customs seals and other issues, in respect of which they were close to an agreement," the ambassador said, and according to the newspaper asserted that a solution of customs seals issue "should allow the free flow of goods for the first time in recent years."