US Ambassador to Serbia Kyle Scott says that he does not believe that there will be major changes in relation to the Balkans due to the arrival of Donald Trump at the White House. He pointed out that the policy towards Kosovo will not change, as some hope in Serbia.
A Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs state secretary says he expects the new U.S. administration to have "a different stance" on Kosovo's admission to UNESCO.
"I believe that with the new (U.S.) administration the situation will be different, that there will no longer be such aggressive pressure, as was probably on the agenda of the previous administration," Veljko Odalovic told the Serbian state broadcaster RTS.
First Deputy PM and FM Ivica Dacic has met with US Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation Thomas Countryman.
In an open, constructive conversation on Tuesday, Dacic and Countryman, who is also the acting Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security at the US Department of State, exchanged views on the situation in the region and a range of matters concerning international security and the present security challenges.
Russia's "information campaigns in the Balkans" are part of its "strategy is to create a perception of Russia as a great power and powerful ally."
There, is, however "little substance behind it in investments or donations to the nations involved," writes the Washington Post.
The West should take over the part of responsibility for developments in the region of former Socialist Federative Republic of Yugoslavia, for merciless and brutal war in which many people died. Everything could, and should, have happened in a different way, because big powers were more observing their own interest than the one of the region, says professor Steven Meyer , former head of the CIA for Balkans, in his interview to Belgrade-based daily Vecernje Novosti.
The three international experts, Fletcher Burton, Herbert Wilmes and Fred Newton will make public today their report on the borderline between Kosovo and Montenegro. The Office of the President of Kosovo, informed that the findings of the three-member team will be made public today at 17:30 hours at a press conference. The President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga, will also participate at the press conference.
Kosovo’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Hashim Thaci, said today that the ruling-coalition is in close consultation about his election as President of Kosovo, which according to him, will take place in February. “We will respect all constitutional procedure,” Thaci said. He said there had been no discussions related to changes in the government yet. He also spoke about his meeting with the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, saying that the United States support Kosovo institutions and the presidential election process.
The US influence is large in the region, especially in Kosovo, and Washington sees the European Union as a kind of competition, says Aleksandar Popov, from the Center for Regionalism, who points out that the US influence in the region can be seen both directly and indirectly.
US Ambassador to Serbia Michael Kirby said in talking show "Pressing" on TV N1 that the prime ministers of Serbia and Kosovo will meet on 27 January.
Speaking about the talks with Pristina, Kirby points out that it is good that there is constant contact and "already on 27 January, the prime ministers will meet".
Ambassador Kirby praised the work of Dacic's and Vucic's government, and the President Nikolic, and that he supports their work on the road to the EU, economic reforms, the dialogue with Pristina.
NATO’s invitation to Montenegro this week to join the military alliance was more than a kindness to a small ex-Yugoslav republic. It was another sign of a battle for influence in the Balkans between Russia and the U.S.
http://www.politico.eu/article/washingtons-balkan-power-play/