Former EU High Representative Catherine Ashton under whose mediation the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue has started in 2012 said at the Belgrade Security Forum that neither side was requested to cross their red lines, RTS reports. She added the aim was to bring representatives of the both sides in the same room, at the same table.
Former French Ambassador to Serbia, Frederic Mondoloni said that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina should continue as soon as possible, while the US State Department Representative David Kostelancik noted normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina is a strategic priority for the US.
Ashton further noted that at no moment Belgrade and Pristina were asked to cross their red lines, Serbia was not requested to recognize Kosovo and Kosovo was not requested to deny itself as a state.
Speaking about the first Brussels agreement and the fact that 6 years have passed since then and it has not been implemented yet, Ashton noted the significance of the implementation of the agreements because they need to improve the lives of ordinary people.
“That was the first agreement, and the idea was certainly not to be the last one,” Ashton said. She underlined people should be told what their future would be like, in particular the young ones, to tell them this region would be a place where they would wish to live, and it would be incorporated into a wider, more optimistic image.
Mondoloni noted that the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue needs to continue as soon as possible, adding his state is ready to help the process and organize the meeting in Paris, if it would be of help, after the government is Pristina is established.
“We want to organize the meeting, together with Germany, if that could speed up the process,” he said.
Director of the US State Department Office for South and Central Europe, David Kostelancik said recognition of Kosovo by Belgrade stands on the European path of Serbia, adding the US is aware it is not an easy process, but that Belgrade has US support.
According to Tanjug news agency he also said the US does not take stance on the issue of delineation or division of Kosovo, this is the issue that Belgrade and Pristina should resolve.
