Hovenier: We want to see real progress in the implementation of the agreement

The American ambassador to Kosovo, Jeffrey Hovenier, said last night that the international community was focused on providing support in order to achieve progress in the region, but also greater security, and pointed out that for this it was necessary to work on the full implementation of the Basic Agreement and Annex in both Kosovo and Serbia. In an interview with ATV, Hovenier also said that the event in Banjska on September 24 underlined how urgent it was for both sides to move forward with the implementation of the agreement.

Commenting on the meeting with the students in Kosovo, Hovenier said that the youth was Kosovo's greatest asset and that he conveyed to them that the main priorities of the United States were that Kosovo had its place in European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

When asked whether students still saw Serbia or politics as a determinant for their future, Hovenier said that students wanted to live in a country with safe conditions, to have economic opportunities, a job and to live their lives in peace and security, and that now they are worried about certain happenings.

"I think we're all worried right now about the developments. But I think they can be confident, as we are, that the international community is very focused on helping progress here and in the region, that there is greater stability, prosperity, greater security. That's is still our goal. It requires political will, both from Kosovo and Serbia, to work on the full implementation of the basic agreement that was reached in February and the annex on implementation that was reached in March. It simply has to happen," Hovenier said.

He states that he does not know if the US and the EU need to change ways to achieve this, but that they want to see progress.

"The US commitment to Kosovo is unquestionable and clear, but our expectations are that this government and all Kosovo governments establish a democratic multi-ethnic society in which all citizens live, in which there are conditions for a dignified life. We also have expectations from Serbia - not to take actions that threaten its neighbors, including Kosovo, actions that destabilize the region, and that was also part of our conversation," the US ambassador said.

He believes that September 24 underlined and made it clear how urgent it is to move forward with this important work in order to achieve full implementation by both parties, for all obligations from the basic agreement and the implementation annex.

"There are many good obligations in this basic agreement. They include things like avoiding the use of force, solving problems peacefully, respecting mutual borders. There are also obligations on the Kosovo side, which relate to the formation of a Community of Serb-majority Municipalities, as a means of addressing the concerns of the Serbian community here. We also consider this very important and urgent," he points out.

When asked about the measures that the EU introduced against Kosovo, Hovenier says that the USA did not impose measures that would affect Kosovo's trade relations or the quality of economic relations, adding that this is all he can say about it.

When asked if we should expect any change in the region in the coming days or weeks, Hovenier says that a very important visit will take place, and that it is a reflection of the seriousness with which the United States and its European partners view the current situation.

"We want to see real progress. Not in negotiations on new obligations between Kosovo and Serbia, but to see that both sides fully implement the agreement reached in February and the annex from March. I think this next visit will be an indication of the importance that this really happens," said Hovenier.