Former US Ambassador and senior State Department official Daniel Fried has said that Kosovo should take proactive steps to strengthen its relations with Washington rather than allowing its international image to be defined primarily by disputes with Serbia.
Fried said recent political developments in Serbia, combined with changes in the US Congress, could create opportunities for more creative diplomacy in the Western Balkans.
However, he cautioned that he does not expect any major diplomatic initiative in the immediate future.
He also suggested that closer cooperation between the United States and European countries could help steer Serbia towards European integration.
Addressing Kosovo’s position, Fried stressed that Prishtina should take the initiative in improving relations with Washington and place greater emphasis on the fundamental principles upon which the country was established.
“Kosovo should rely even more on its founding principles: democracy, the rule of law and its wonderful flag, which represents Kosovo as a state for everyone who lives in it,” Fried told Radio Free Europe.
His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about Kosovo’s relations with the United States and the need to strengthen diplomatic engagement with its key international partners.
