The US and German ambassadors to Serbia, Kyle Scott and Thomas Schieb said on Thursday that the European countries had the same approach toward the Balkans and firmly support their accession to the European Union, Beta news agency reported.
However, taking part at the Belgrade Security Forum conference on Belgrade – Pristina dialogue, the two expressed different opinions on a border correction between Pristina and Belgrade as a solution to the Kosovo issue.
Scott said that the US was open to any agreement reached by both sides without any preconditions, while Schieb told the gathering that “the correction of the border was not a good idea,” adding he also supported a solution leading to stability.
“The US doesn’t support the changes of the border, the US supports any lasting agreement between Belgrade and Pristina which the two sides will reach on their own,” Scott said.
He added that Washington, without preconditions and red lines, but also without an unconditional approval, was waiting for the (Belgrade and Pristina) leaders to reach an agreement.
“We want to see what they can come up with and then we will say if we accept that or not,” Scott said, warning about the frozen conflicts which bore the risk of new confrontation.
Meanwhile, Schieb said that Berlin, as well as Washington, would like to see an overall solution, but that it had “strong doubts regarding the border correction.”
That solution might solve one problem, he said, and open many more.
However, the two agreed on the importance of the Balkans, with Scott saying his country had been supporting the EU integrations of the whole of Western Balkans and that the US’ vision “of the Balkans is positive, but I think that Russian vision is negative.”
Schieb said that the Western Balkans has been a German Government priority and that its policy toward the region remains the same.
“Stable Balkans is in the best interest of Europe and Europe is under the direct influence of all events in the region. We believe that the EU membership is the best way to preserve stability in which the societies can progress,” he underlined.
