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“Meeting with Eliot could be counterproductive” (Danas)

Meeting of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic with US Congressman Eliot Engel would not have major significance in resolving the Kosovo issue, given that Engel is an active Albanian lobbyist in Washington, diplomats told Danas daily. Danas daily interlocutors went on saying that this meeting could even be “counterproductive” for Serbia’s position in continuation of negotiations on Kosovo because Engel “strongly opposes the policy of US President Donald Trump.” “Serbian authorities do not hide expectations that Trump and his administration would play a constructive role in the final phase of resolving the Kosovo issue, however, given that Engel is not a part of Trump’s circle, on the contrary he is fiercely criticizing him, there would be no much use from the talks with this congressman,” diplomatic sources told Danas. They noted Eliot Engel is also famous for his friendship with Vlora Citaku, representative of Pristina in US, who is using every opportunity to engage in verbal disputes with the Serbian officials at UN SC sessions. Daily added, Engel also posed with his hands showing “double-headed eagle sign” in public. The daily further claims the main aim of Engel’s visit to Belgrade was to appeal to President Vucic that Serbian officials stop lobbying activities among certain states to revoke recognitions of Kosovo.