The US does not consider that the ongoing talks between Serbia and Kosovo have anything to do with Bosnia, the newly appointed US Ambassador to Sarajevo, Eric Nelson, said on Thursday in his first press conference after taking office, N1 reported.
“The US position is clear that there is no parallel between the negotiations taking place between Serbia and Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina,” he said.
Albanian political analyst Azem Vllasi said that the annexation of the Presevo valley to Kosovo is not a realistic option.
Vllasi, a senior communist official in Kosovo during the 1980s, said that the annexation of that part of southern Serbia is something that everyone in Kosovo wants.
He told Pristina-based KTV that President Hashim Thaci’s insisting on the annexation of the Presevo valley is not a realistic option.
US Under Secretary of State David Hale says that "there is a chance that a comprehensive solution will be achieved this year, but only if the dialogue is resumed first".
He also pointed out that this solution must contribute to long-term stability in the region.
An American official who will soon take over the position of an Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Philip Reeker, has called on Pristina to abolish the tariffs, reports Serbian media quoting the portal nezavisen.mk.
According to the North Macedonia news portal nezavisen.mk he also called on Belgrade to focus on the strategic interest "instead of being aggressive in rejecting Kosovo."
Serbia should recognise Kosovo as an independent, sovereign country and Kosovo should do the same, said Matthew Palmer, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.
"The talks between Belgrade and Pristina are not about the border change, but about recognition. Serbia should recognise Kosovo as an independent, sovereign country, and Kosovo should do the same," Palmer said in Delfi, at the fourth Delphi Economic Forum, Danas daily reported.
Serbia will not take any measures that would affect the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, but the agreement is doubtful if Serbia is expected to recognize Kosovo, Serbian Foreign Minister, Ivica Dacic, said.
“We won’t take any measures that would affect the dialogue, but if someone expects us to recognise Kosovo’s independence and not for Pristina to have enough political wisdom and to strive for a compromise than the agreement is quite unlikely,” Dacic said speaking at the fourth Delphi Economic Forum, in Greece.
David McAllister, the European Parliament (EP) Rapporteur for Serbia told Radio Free Europe (RFE) in an interview his delegation called on Pristina authorities to revoke the decision on the 100 percent import taxes on goods from Serbia to enable the Belgrade – Pristina dialogue to resume, the Beta news agency reported on Wednesday.
On Monday, Nathalie Loiseau, French Minister for European Affairs said ahead of her visit to Belgrade that the current situation in the EU did not allow enlargement under the satisfactory conditions.
The European Movement in Serbia Secretary-general Suzana Grubjesic told N1 on Wednesday that the European Union showed fatigue with the enlargement but added Serbia should continue with the reforms.
Representatives of diplomatic circles comment for the Belgrade based daily Danas that it is no surprise that US career diplomat Philip Reeker will replace Wess Mitchell, acting Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia.
Interlocutors of Danas argue that America has firmly resolved to "push" the whole process of resolving the Kosovo issue, as well as seeking someone like the late Richard Holbrooke, known for his involvement in the Balkans, including Kosovo, in the 1990s.
The current situation in the European Union does not allow enlargement under the satisfactory condition, Nathalie Loiseau, French Minister for European Affairs said ahead of her visit to Belgrade, the Beta news agency reported on Monday.
She said the May election would be crucial for the future of the EU.