Ferguson: Serbs in northern Kosovo need special support; we strive to help

The UK Ambassador to Belgrade, Edward Ferguson, stated that all communities in Kosovo must be protected and that the Serbian community in the north is no exception, noting that they require special support, as reported by RTV.

In an interview with "Diplomacy & Commerce" magazine, when asked about the chances that the Kosovo issue will stop "killing" Serbia's relations with Western countries that recognize Kosovo, Ferguson replied that Belgrade and Pristina must find ways to resolve open issues between themselves.

"Britain and Serbia start from different positions because we recognize Kosovo as a sovereign independent state. But what is important is what we can agree on. And we agree on most things. I agree that all communities must be protected and must be able to live safely, develop their businesses, and raise families. For example, the Serbian community in northern Kosovo is no exception. They need special support, and we try to help them wherever we can. Serbia must utilize the potential we have discussed to resolve open issues with many of its neighbors. This is not only Kosovo but also Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, etc.," said Ferguson.

Asked where there is still room for improvement in the relations between Serbia and the United Kingdom, he answered that some progress has been made, especially in the area of trade.

"This year, for the first time, we have exceeded the annual trade value between Serbia and the United Kingdom of one billion pounds. What is particularly interesting and exciting to me is that the largest growth has been recorded in the most modern sectors - new technologies, digital sector, renewable energy, and similar," Ferguson stated.

He added that agreements have been reached with the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"I believe that the future in this field is very bright. I would like to see a bit more interaction among our people. From my experience, whenever Britons and Serbs meet, they discover that they have a lot in common. This gives me a lot of optimism for the future," said Ferguson.

According to him, when he was preparing for this position in London and Washington, much of what he heard about Serbia was not so optimistic.

"You hear about tensions with neighbors. You hear about discussions about the past. Only when I arrived here did I discover so many good stories. So many exciting things are happening. There is so much potential here. And I think that, of course, the past cannot be forgotten, but I would like people to think less about the past and more about the future because I believe that there is a fantastic future here," Ferguson said.

Asked whether he thinks that people in this region are too focused on events from the 1990s, Ferguson answered affirmatively.

"People spend a lot of time thinking about the past. This is not just a Serbian problem. I believe that Britain often looks at Serbia through the prism of the 1990s. We need to focus on the present and think about the future. Because if we look at our history, we have been very good friends for most of the last 200 years. Therefore, it is important to understand, remember, and learn from the past, but to think about the future," said Ferguson.

Asked how he sees the United Kingdom eight years after Brexit, Ferguson answered that in many ways, Britain is where it has always been.

"We now have a new government that has very clearly stated that it wants to reset our relations with the European Union and the whole of Europe, including non-EU countries, like Serbia," said Ferguson.

Asked about the current crisis in the Middle East, Ferguson says the situation is very concerning.

"As for the situation between Israel and Palestine, we very clearly state that Israel has the right to defend itself. Also, hostages who have been held in terrible conditions for more than a year must be released immediately. But, it is also necessary for a ceasefire to happen immediately. The conditions in which civilians in Gaza find themselves are completely unacceptable. We need to see significant improvements. Civilians must be safe, and humanitarian aid must reach them in larger quantities. That is our focus," said Ferguson.

Asked if the presence of Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic at the birthday celebration of the British monarch this summer is a sign of better relations between Serbia and the United Kingdom, Ferguson answered that it is a sign that President Vucic, like Britain, wants better relations between the two countries.

"I think that's a good thing. I was delighted that he came to our king's birthday celebration, and just a few weeks ago, he opened the first Conference on Trade between the United Kingdom and the Western Balkans, which we held here in Belgrade," Ferguson mentioned.