The ambassador of the United States of America in Serbia, Christopher Hill, said that he does not understand the decision to ban the “Mirëdita, Dobar dan” festival, because, as he said, it is an event that encourages cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo.
Hill said in an interview for the magazine “Diplomacy and Commerce” that he did not expect such a decision from the Serbian authorities, broadcasts the Balkan Service of Radio Free Europe.
“There are always security reasons, that’s clear to me. But, I do not understand this decision. The festival has been great for Serbia, it has been held for ten years…” said Hill.
He recalled that the festival is sponsored by the European Union and said that the EU is trying to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia.
“This means, first of all, a reduction of tensions, but it also means ideas for mutual cooperation”, said the American ambassador.
The lack of normalization of relations, according to him, “means instability, means problems”.
“While the Europeans want to see Serbia among them, within their structures, they want Serbia to solve or at least address its problems before entering the EU. So I think they’re very focused on normalization, as are we,” Hill said.
The “Mirëdita, Dobar dan” festival, which promotes cooperation between the cultural and artistic scene of Kosovo and that of Serbia, was supposed to be held in Belgrade from June 27 to 29.
Serbia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs banned its holding, due to what it said was a “danger to the safety of people and property”, after the gathering of ultra-rights who opposed the holding of the festival.
The banning of the festival was condemned by non-governmental organizations in the region and by some opposition parties in Serbia, while the European Union expressed regret./REL/
