Hill: The formation of the Community of Serb Municipalities is a key issue, the US will advocate for its establishment

The US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, stated tonight that the issue of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities is "absolutely crucial" in the dialogue process for normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo, adding that the US and the EU share the same stance on this matter.

When asked whether, considering the strategic dialogue between the US and Serbia and the recent finalization of similar negotiations with Kosovo, these two parallel processes will bring a new phase to the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, Hill told Kurir TV that he does not know if they will be connected, nor what the US dialogue with Kosovo will look like, but what happens in the Brussels-led EU mediation process is important.

"I cannot speak about what will happen in Kosovo, but it is important what will happen in the EU, in the dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. How Kosovo and Serbia will reach a stage of normalization, and how the Serb community in Kosovo, which is extremely important for that relationship, will know what their future will look like. The key element of this and any dialogue with Kosovo must be the issue of the Community of Serb Municipalities. It is absolutely crucial and our EU partners share the same view," Hill said.

He added that a period of very dynamic diplomacy is coming up in relation to the dialogue between Serbia and the US, as well as with the Brussels dialogue.

"It will be a very dynamic time," noted the American ambassador.

Asked when "the key will be in the hands of the Serbs," or when the Community of Serb Municipalities will be formed, Hill said he would like to be able to predict that, and that it should have happened 10 years ago.

"But we are talking about it today because it has not happened. It is more important to say that it needs to be formed. The US will continue to advocate for it, in the context of forming the Community of Serb Municipalities, and this logic continues and will lead us to an agreement," Hill said.

Regarding the position of Serbs in Kosovo, he stated that he would rather talk about what Serbia should advocate for on behalf of the Serbs in Kosovo.

"The Serbian people in Kosovo must have a clear vision of the future. They need to know that pensioners who are in the Serbian pension system will be able to receive their pensions, to know which hospitals they can go to, which schools their children can attend... All these issues are contained in the Community of Serb Municipalities," the ambassador indicated.

He added that "the problems speak for themselves," pointing out that the Serb community is facing terrible problems.

"We must ensure that they have a bright future, that some things that are happening and that have happened in previous years are changed," emphasized Hill.

He highlighted that the strategic dialogue between Serbia and the US also covers issues such as energy, as well as others, like Serbia's security, the sale of military equipment. There will be, he added, contacts among business entities, as the US is a major partner of Serbia.

"The strategic dialogue provides a broad basis for overall relations and instead of talking about individual issues, we put that on a broad platform. It is important how we move forward in relations, that there is a continuous interest from the American administration for this, so that the dialogue is something that encompasses all administrations and authorities in Serbia," Hill said.

He stressed that the strategic dialogue will be conducted with mutual respect and understanding, in the desire for the two countries to be closer.

"It encourages me, as it has now begun, at the start of this important year," Hill said.

The ambassador pointed out that Serbia is important for regional stability, as well as on a broader scale, in Europe.

"Serbia can bring a lot to the EU and in terms of relations with the USA. We want a closer and more productive relationship with Serbia, which I have also been working on and I have no doubt that this will continue," said Hill.

Speaking about sanctions against NIS, Hill reiterated that the USA does not intend to harm the Serbian economy or affect the gasoline supply to the citizens of Serbia, but the measures are aimed against the majority Russian ownership of NIS, which brings numerous benefits to Moscow, aiding in the war against Ukraine.

According to him, the decision of the USA was made because they simply do not want to cooperate with NIS until there is a change in the ownership structure, that is, until it becomes a Serbian, not a Russian company.

"We are working on this meticulously and with respect for the Serbian authorities, ensuring that this ownership transformation will not harm the Serbian economy or its citizens," said Hill.

He added that there is a deadline given to Serbia for the ownership transformation, but he emphasizes that it is more important for Serbia to have a good plan.

"I do not want to speculate about what will happen within that deadline, but I think the US Department of the Treasury is interested in a successful plan, not the deadline itself, so that the transformation can be carried out in a foreseeable time, preventing Russia from profiting from NIS," Hill said.

Not wanting to speak on behalf of Serbia, the ambassador said that Serbia is in a better position to be the majority owner of its assets because it has valuable assets in NIS, which should operate for the benefit of the citizens of Serbia.

"There are many issues in the energy sector, which is constantly changing and developing. NIS will benefit from a change in the ownership structure. I expect Serbia to make a good plan and to be in good shape when it again becomes the owner of NIS," said Hill.

Speaking about the energy agreement between Serbia and the USA, the ambassador said that the USA's desire is to assist Serbia in adapting to innovations in the energy sector, particularly clean energy.

He noted that there will be significant American investments in solar energy.

"These are major projects that are expensive but have long-term implications. That's why it is important to have this overarching energy agreement. We want to help Serbia regain energy sovereignty, to make its own decisions, and it will be able to do so," said Ambassador Hill.