TIRANA, August 16 – The American ambassador in Pristina, Jeff Hovenier, has said that the US wants Kosovo and Serbia to make progress regarding the dialogue mediated by the EU.
In a conversation with journalists on Wednesday, Hovenier said that what the US is asking of Kosovo should not be seen as pressure, but as a goal for the latter to join NATO and the EU.
Among other things, he said that the Serbian-Kosovo parties should continue the association agreement.
“The victory of Kosovo is not a loss for Serbia, and a victory for Serbia is not a loss for Kosovo. We believe that it is possible to have a relationship with Serbia and Kosovo that does not affect the interest of the other country in any way,” he said.
According to him, as an embassy they had three strategic points. One of them is to support Kosovo to take its place in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures. “We do a great job of advancing this. There should be no question about that,” he said.
Further Hovenier said another point is for the US to help Kosovo’s economy to provide a future for its citizens and good governance.
“I don’t see what we are asking Kosovo as pressure. I see that there are a number of legitimate demands from the US and partners that advance these strategic goals… So we ask it to advance the negotiations and the conclusions of the negotiations to establish the Association. And we have been clear how we see the Association. That it is not contrary to the Constitution of Kosovo, with the decision of the Constitutional Court, and that it is not an additional level of Government,” said the US Ambassador. /argumentum.al
