US envoy: No use of Belgrade - Pristina mutual blaming (N1, Beta)
The US ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott told reporters on Tuesday the situation regarding the European Union-mediated Belgrade – Pristina dialogue on normalisation of relations was extremely complicated, but that there was no benefit from the two sides blaming each other, the Beta news agency reported.
The ambassador said it was necessary for both sides to sit down and normalise the dialogue.
“The US and the EU are steering both sides in that direction,” Scoot said.
Serbia’s Interior Minister added it was good that both the US and EU demanded the abolishment of the 100 percent import tariffs on goods from Serbia and Bosnia which Pristina introduced last November, but added it needed additional pressure (on Pristina) to have it implemented.
The dialogue has been on hold since the tariffs come in force and both Belgrade and Brussels have reiterated it will resume as soon as they are suspended or lifted.
But despite the calls from Washington and Brussels and other Western capitals, Pristina has been refusing to remove the taxes, saying they have been introduced as a defence from Belgrade's aggressive policies and will remain in place until Serbia recognises Kosovo as an independent state.