Chollet: The negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina should be accelerated

The Counselor of the US Department of State, Derek Chollet, who will be a part of the American delegation visiting Belgrade next week, said that there was no set date for reaching an agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, but that the negotiations should be accelerated, RTV reports.

When asked if there was a specific deadline by which the US expected to reach a sustainable agreement between Belgrade and Pristina, Chollet told Blic TV that it was difficult to specify the exact date because the negotiations are tense.

"Our position is quite simple - the negotiations must be accelerated. We worked hard to support our colleagues from the EU, Kosovo, and Serbia in promoting the European process. We did not have double standards and we are doing everything we can for both sides to find a common language, because the longer this lasts the longer the path of Kosovo and Serbia in achieving full membership in the EU will be," Chollet said.

Chollet added that he expected to see progress in that field soon and stated that one of the things he would discuss with colleagues from the region next week was how the US can help, but also about encouraging both sides to move forward in the negotiations at a high speed.

Answering the question of whether the plan brought to Belgrade and Pristina a few days ago by the EU special envoy for dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, is a good basis for talks, Chollet points out that the US fully supports everything the EU does, and that they are in constant contact.

"These are negotiations, something that was presented at the beginning does not necessarily have to be at the end, such is the nature of all negotiations. In recent months, we tried to do everything in our power to support the process, but also to make it known that we expect both sides to urgently get involved, and show flexibility, and goodwill during the negotiations," Chollet said.

Speaking about the visit of the US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, to the region on December 12, Chollet stated that this visit was important and that it was an indication that the US was committed to the region and maintaining peace in the Western Balkans.

"I am also coming and I will lead the delegation that will arrive first in Pristina, then in Belgrade. Certainly, we were worried about the violence on Tuesday in the north of Kosovo in Zubin Potok and North Mitrovica," Chollet said.

He pointed out that the current events confirmed his position that the scheduled elections in the north of Kosovo should be postponed because they would not contribute to peace and stability.

He added that he agreed with the position of the US ambassador in Pristina, Jeffrey Hovenier, that no one should resort to violence and intimidation, as well as the use of explosives.

"We have to be careful and make sure that when the elections come, everything passes in a democratic spirit, without any political intimidation and physical violence. That is our position and I will discuss it next week with my colleagues," Chollet said.

When it comes to the introduction of sanctions against Russia, and when asked whether he would continue to insist that Serbia's foreign policy be harmonized with the EU's foreign policy, Chollet states that Serbia must be harmonized with Europe on the issue of Russia and Ukraine, if it wants to be a member of the EU.

"We are certainly grateful that Serbia condemned Russia's illegal and unjustified war in Ukraine in international institutions, but if Serbia wants to achieve its ambition and continue to be integrated into Europe, it is very simple - it must harmonize its foreign policy with the foreign policy of the EU. That would be our message," Chollet said.

He added that the condemnation of Russia would be one of the topics of next week's meetings with the Serbian political leadership, but that they would also discuss developments in the region and bilateral relations between Serbia and the US.