It can be expected that the U.S. will suggest to Germany and other EU members to let up, and give Serbia a chance to open chapters in membership negotiations.
This is according to Faculty of of Political Sciences professor Ivo Viskovic, who added that the visit of Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic to Washington is “very important.”
“It’s difficult to say that this would mean pressure on Berlin, Berlin would never accept that, but an influence on Berlin, yes,” he told the Serbian state broadcaster RTS, and added:
“It is certain that the U.S. will try to suggest to Berlin and others in the EU that, after all, what is happening in Serbia and the Balkans needs to be taken into account, that the current policy is counterproductive and that there should be easing up and giving us a chance.”
When it comes to the Brussels agreement implementation, Viskovic added that “if the U.S. wants to it can influence Pristina to behave as it should in a constructive dialogue and to no longer sabotage and delay implementation of that agreement.”
Viskovic also said that Vucic’s trip, “while not historic, is very important.” and also that it was “a great pity that he did not get to meet with U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, whose son has died.”
“It has been suggested in the public that our prime minister did not have adequate interlocutors, which is not true,” Viskovic told the state television, adding:
“We must be aware that the policy towards small countries, such as Serbia, is created and implemented on intermediate levels. Vucic’s interlocutors are very relevant for the relationship with Serbia and the region, and I think that’s important.”
Asked about relations with Russia after Vucic’s visit to U.S., Viskovic said that Serbia “has always been in a sort of triangle when it comes to Russia and the United States” and that “getting closer to either is always interpreted as a move away from the other.”
“There is speculation because of the current situation and relations between the West and Russia and in that sense we are in a delicate position, but it seems to me that the prime minister and minister of foreign affairs are for now handling it in a way that it is best for Serbia,” he said.
This professor went on to tell RTS that “a consequence of Vucic’s visit is likely to be the solving of the Bytyqi case.”
“I think this will probably be a consequence of this visit, it is a question that will have to be resolved, because it is one of the issues causing great emotions in the United States caused,” said Viskovic.
Asked whether it is realistic to expect more investments after Vucic’s trip to the U.S. “and that country’s positive assessment,” Viskovic said that “a positive political message has always influenced a positive economic climate and arrival of new investments.”
