The US State Department delegation again tried to persuade Serbia to impose sanctions against the Russian Federation

A delegation of the US State Department in Belgrade met with the top leadership of Serbia, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.

The Americans arrived after a visit to Albanian separatists in Kosovo. US State Department Senior Advisor Derek Chollet and Envoy to the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar met in Belgrade with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic and Defense Minister Milos Vucevic.

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Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, after meeting with Derek Chollet, wrote on social networks:

“I expressed the hope that the United States will see our country’s efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region, use its undoubted influence and push Pristina to fulfill its obligations in accordance with the signed agreements.”

In turn, Derek Cholet said that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina should be aimed at the implementation of the so-called Franco-German settlement plan and the creation of a Community of Serbian Municipalities in Kosovo.

_{Let us recall that the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities (de facto autonomy) in Kosovo and Metohija is one of the key points of the Brussels Agreement signed in 2013 between Belgrade and Pristina, which Albanian separatists refuse to implement under various pretexts. And in 2015, the so-called “constitutional court of the Republic of Kosovo” ruled that some points of the Brussels Agreement do not comply with the laws of the self-proclaimed “Republic of Kosovo”, namely the creation of associations on an ethnic basis.}

In addition, the American diplomat said that Serbia should join the anti-Russian sanctions.

“I respect the position of the leaders in Belgrade, but as long as Serbia refrains from sanctions, it will not be able to move forward. We talk about this openly. Serbia has taken some significant steps, such as voting against Russia at the UN, and we are ready to work with friends in Belgrade to persuade them to further support Ukraine, which needs more support, and to punish Russian behavior,” Chollet said.

Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic emphasized the importance of establishing regular contacts with Derek Chollet.

“It’s good to hear from a senior American official that the Community of Serbian Municipalities is Pristina’s responsibility,” Dacic said.

At the same time, the head of Serbian diplomacy at a meeting with a representative of the State Department bluntly stated: there are no politicians in Serbia who are ready to accept the independence of Kosovo.

_{It is worth noting that during the visit of Chollet and Escobar, no statements were made from Serbian politicians or on behalf of their press services that Serbia refuses to impose sanctions against Russia. This makes it possible to speculate about the deal proposed by the Americans. For example, it could include the following scenario: if the United States ensures the creation of Serbian autonomy in Kosovo and Metohija, and does not demand that Serbia immediately recognize the independence of the “Republic of Kosovo,” then Belgrade will be ready to impose sanctions against Moscow.}

Как reported “PolitNavigator”, representative of the US State Department Derek Chollet, during his visit to Pristina, stated that the urgent formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities is necessary.