Hill: Now is the right time for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina

US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, points out that now is the time for the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Pristina and stresses that creating conditions so that children do not leave southern Serbia and the region must be one of the most important tasks, Euronews Serbia reports.

Hill, who stayed in the south of Serbia for three days and spoke with the presidents of the municipalities of Bujanovac and Presevo and young people from those municipalities, said in an interview for FoNet and JUGpress that the success of a country depended on its relations with its neighbors because neighbors could not be chosen.

As he pointed out, "there is a right time for everything, and now is the right time for the normalization of relations" between Belgrade and Pristina.

He emphasized that he was very optimistic about the agreement reached in Ohrid and pointed out that he had told the interlocutors in this part of Serbia that their future was in Serbia.

"I think they understood that. I also made it known that the US was paying attention and understood what they were facing and that we would cooperate and work together to solve all the problems," Hill announced.

According to him, "everyone should make an effort to make the existing borders become borders in the modern sense, and that means not separating people, but bringing them together, especially in business".

"Now we are within reach, I would say, of an opportunity for normalization and that is the true message of the Ohrid Agreement," Hill assessed.

He believes that this message will become increasingly clear to people, that they will learn to accept the challenges that the future brings and accept that everything can be solved, that they should not be burdened by the past, but look to the future.

Regarding the recent statement by Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti that the Serbs would not get autonomy in Kosovo, and that the Serbs felt insecure because of the arrests and looting of Serbian houses, Hill said that these were "very big challenges" and that he "doesn't ignore" these problems.

He stated that he knew that the US Embassy in Pristina was closely monitoring all these problems and challenges, but it was also clear to him that "if any country in this part of the world wants to be successful, then it must have good relations with its neighbors".

"You know, neither the EU nor the US can create friendly relations between Pristina and Belgrade, Pristina and Belgrade have to do it themselves, and we can help. We will monitor how it is implemented and in that way guarantee fulfillment. No matter how much we help from the side, that friendship and trust should be built by two sides," Hill explained.

He believes that citizens look at things in a much different way than politicians, since they are primarily interested in everyday life, first and foremost the life of their children.

"It is important to always focus on fundamental issues, which are economic issues," Hill said.

According to him, "the most important issues are that the economy functions and that jobs are created for young people".

"They carefully follow the economic events and in many cases, they can decide to leave the places where they live. This region is important and not only the US cares about it, but it should also be important for Belgrade as well, and the people from here should have good communication with their authorities in Belgrade, to solve their questions, and we will follow up and offer help," Hill said.