Hill: The US supports the process of normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo; Pristina to form the CSM

During his visit to Presevo, US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, pointed out that Washington fully supported the EU's efforts to normalize relations between Kosovo and Serbia and stressed that for him one of the most important elements of the Ohrid agreement was Pristina's obligation to establish the Community of Serb-majority Municipalities.

Hill, in a statement to journalists, after the meeting with the mayor of Presevo, Shqiprim Arifi, said that two weeks ago there had still been concern that all possibilities would not be realized in Ohrid.

"I believe that as a result of the meetings in Ohrid, positive chances appeared that can help the process of normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia. It was not easy for both governments, both for Albin Kurti and for President Aleksandar Vucic. These were very difficult decisions. I think significant progress has been made," he emphasized.

Hill pointed out that for him, one of the most important elements of the Ohrid agreement was the fact that Pristina, in fulfilling its obligations, had to establish the CSM, adding that there were other things that Kosovo had agreed to do.

"All this will lead to better relations with the EU. Pristina can consider it an agreement with Brussels. So can the Serbian side. What Vucic agreed regarding the normalization of relations with Kosovo is related to Belgrade's relations with Brussels," he said.

Hill said that special recognition should be given to Miroslav Lajcak and in particular to the High EU Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, who had spent 12 hours at meetings in Ohrid despite numerous obligations related to Ukraine.

He also pointed out that nothing had been agreed upon until it had been implemented.

He emphasized that the US, although not a party to the dialogue, considered itself a part of that process and would continue to engage in it.

He called on the citizens not to complain about what had not been agreed, upon but to look at what could be implemented.

He also emphasized that people who had made these difficult decisions should be supported.

In the continuation of his visit to the municipalities of the south of Serbia, Hill spoke today with the leaders of the local self-government in Presevo, and previously he pointed out the importance of the implementation of minority rights for all ethnic communities living in Bujanovac and Presevo.

The president of the temporary body of the National Council of Albanians, Ragmi Mustafa, announced in a statement for the Bujanovacke portal that he was "not worried about Ambassador Hill's statement that there is no support for the formation of the Community of Albanian Municipalities in the South of Serbia."

"I understand this attitude because the goal of the US policy is to separate Serbia as far as possible from the influence of Russia," Mustafa said.

He pointed out that the position of Albanians would remain clear regarding "respect for minority rights in the use of national symbols, language, and script, as well as the implementation of measures in education and the representation of Albanians in the public institutions of the State of Serbia".

Member of Parliament of Serbia and president of the Party for Democratic Action, Shaip Kamberi, did not make official statements to the media about Ambassador Hill's visit but only wrote on his Facebook page that he was happy about the visit of the American diplomat.

Hill stated that "he will discuss the application of minority policy and the position of ethnic Albanians and their problems in integrating into the state institutions of Serbia during the next meeting with the President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic."

It is expected that Hill will raise the issue of reforming the Coordinating Body for the three municipalities in the south of Serbia, so that by including Albanians, this body as an official body of the Government of Serbia will have a more effective role in solving current problems.

Hill, who is on a three-day visit to the south of Serbia, had, in the presence of his wife, talks with the Serbs, Albanians, and Roma people, pupils, and students in the American corner in Bujanovac, where he insisted on "reciprocal representation of all ethnic communities within the programs that are taking place in the American corner in this municipality".

In Presevo, he spoke with Shqiprim Arifi, the current president of the local self-government and the president of the Albanian Democratic Alternative, which is known as the "Albanian opposition" in relation to Kamberi's Party for Democratic Action.

The American diplomat will end his three-day visit to the municipalities of southern Serbia tomorrow with talks with the mayor of Vranje, Slobodan Milenkovic.

It is expected that the topic of the conversation would be the further economic development of the central municipality of southern Serbia and the support of the US for further development projects.

This is Christopher Hill's first visit to the municipalities of southern Serbia since his appointment as US ambassador to Serbia.

Hill is known as a good connoisseur of the situation in the Western Balkans, and as an associate of Richard Holbrooke, he was one of the important diplomats before the preparation and later the signing of the Dayton Agreement.