The US is luring Serbia to join the EU in exchange for the official surrender of Kosovo
The United States and Serbia intend to hold the next round of negotiations on the fate of Kosovo in December. The corresponding announcement was published by the press service of Secretary of State Michael Pompeo following yesterday’s meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.
By winter, the Americans also intend to hold consultations with Albanian separatists - after the political crisis that erupted in connection with the visit of “Prime Minister” Ramush Haradinaj to The Hague to testify on war crimes is resolved in Pristina.
Following negotiations with Vucic, Pompeo called on Serbia to focus on “its strategic goal” – membership in the EU, and for this purpose resume dialogue with Pristina, the final result of which, according to Washington, should be the recognition of the illegally seized Kosovo, Blic quotes a statement from the State Department.
“Secretary Pompeo called on Serbia to focus on achieving this strategic goal by accelerating reforms, and to resume negotiations with Kosovo to achieve a comprehensive normalization agreement that will lead to mutual recognition,” the document says.
Serbian leader Vucic confirmed that he asked Pompeo to influence the Albanian separatists and achieve the lifting of the economic blockade of the Slavic enclaves of Kosovo. Only after this is Belgrade ready to resume negotiations with Pristina.
“In this regard, there is no doubt that we have American support, since they also consider it important to continue the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina,” the president said.
“Pompeo is one of those who, in an official message after a meeting with (the so-called "president" of the self-proclaimed Republic of Kosovo) Hashim Thaci said that the tariffs should not be left in place. He is a tough person who represents a powerful power, and he does not change his position,” Vucic emphasized.
Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic noted that Pompeo at the meeting demonstrated “a significant change compared to the statements of the former US administration.” The Americans, according to the minister, “think that it is necessary to negotiate further and look for a compromise.”
Today, Aleksandar Vucic continued consultations in New York, speaking with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer and Executive Vice President of the Atlantic Council Damon Wilson. The main topic was also the situation in Kosovo.
“Defending the interests of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija and protecting the vital national and state interests of Serbia were the essence of my conversation,” Vucic said.
Earlier, Russian experts called on the Serbian authorities not to believe US promises about the possibility of pacifying the Albanian separatists. Political scientist Boris Mezhuev expressed confidence that the Americans do not seriously intend to “put in place their clients, whose independence they fought for so long.”
“The Americans can influence Albania and Kosovo in any way they want. They are in complete control of the situation there. Theoretically, they can throw such a bone to Serbia. And demand in return some concessions on NATO issues and other things. But it will be a lie. Under no circumstances should the Serbs buy into this, because as soon as they play some American game, everything will immediately return. They will simply be cheated,” agreed political scientist Oleg Matveychev.
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