The United States Ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, stated that the US and its Western partners do not agree with the Declaration adopted on June 8 by Serbia and the Serb entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska.
The declaration, adopted in Belgrade during a meeting between the two governments, refers to Kosovo as an “inseparable part of Serbia.”
“I have not had the opportunity to read all the reports related to the ‘All-Serb Assembly,’ but I understand that it uses language that says Kosovo is an integral part of Serbia. I understand that this is their position, but it is not the position of any of us, it is not the position of the US, our QUINT partners, or anyone else,” said Hovenier.
He emphasized that the US has recognized Kosovo as an independent state and that the US will stand behind this position “with pride.”
During the so-called All-Serb Assembly on June 8, it was emphasized that it supports the efforts of the Republic of Serbia to preserve territorial integrity and sovereignty, guaranteed by international law, Resolution 1244, and other United Nations Security Council resolutions.
The declaration states, among other things, that Serbs in Kosovo, as well as all other citizens loyal to Serbia, must protect monasteries, churches, private properties, cemeteries, and other endangered sites.
The signatories of the Declaration also condemned what they considered intolerable living conditions for Serbs in Kosovo, created by the authorities in Pristina, without mentioning any concrete facts.
Another point mentioned is the need for the creation of the Association of Serb-majority Municipalities in Kosovo and the continuation of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in Brussels as the only sustainable way to solve the problems.
Hovenier made his comments during the international conference “Rugova and the West,” held on June 10 in Pristina, in honor of the 25th anniversary of Kosovo’s liberation.
At the conference, former Italian Prime Minister Massimo D’Alema, who led Italy from 1998 to 2000, said that Kosovo needs an agreement with Serbia.
“Kosovo must be firm in its demands for its rights but not fall into the trap of nationalism. However, it should remain open to discussion about an agreement,” he said.
D’Alema was the Prime Minister of Italy when NATO intervened in Kosovo to stop the violence by Serbian forces.
The bombing campaign lasted 78 days and ended on June 10, 1999 – a day after the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement.
This agreement, negotiated between NATO and Yugoslav military officials, led to the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and the establishment of an international peacekeeping force, led by NATO.
