The Ambassador of the United States in Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said that the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia is a challenge that must be overcome only with mutual recognition and nothing less.
“The conclusion of this process must be recognition between the two countries, because anything less than this does not fulfill the vision we have for a complete, free, prosperous and peaceful Europe,” he said.
Speaking at a panel of the “The Western Balkans 2024” summit, which is being held in Pristina, Hovenier also emphasized the importance of implementing the agreements that Kosovo and Serbia have reached within the dialogue for the normalization of relations.
“There are a number of American officials, including myself, who spend a lot of time on the full implementation of the obligations that Kosovo and Serbia have received in the process facilitated by the EU”, said Hovenier.
The two countries have been in negotiations for more than a decade, but many of the agreements they have reached have not been implemented.
Both sides blame each other for lack of readiness. Hovenier once again emphasized his position that he does not agree with a statement – approved on June 8 by Serbia and the Serbian entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republika Srpska – in which Kosovo is treated as “inalienable part of Serbia”.
“This is not the position of my country or of our partners. We have recognized Kosovo as an independent democratic country and this cannot be discussed”, said Hovenier.
He said the same thing a day earlier, recalling that the USA has recognized Kosovo as an independent state and that it will remain behind this position “with pride”./REL
