Kasanof: The US wants to see progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe and Eurasia, Alexander Kasanof, emphasized that the United States wants to see progress in the EU-facilitated dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

Speaking at the "Pupin Forum" organized by the Pupin Initiative in Washington, Kasanof pointed out that there are unresolved issues in the Western Balkans where progress is needed, including the dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.

"We want to see progress in the dialogue under the EU mediation," Kasanof said, noting that he had discussed with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and also with Minister Marko Djuric how the United States could contribute to advancing the dialogue.

Commenting on the energy agreement signed between the US and Serbia, Kasanof mentions that this agreement would benefit both Serbia and the Serbian people, as well as American companies and citizens.

According to him, credit for this agreement goes to Minister Djuric, who until recently was Serbia's ambassador to the US and worked on deepening Serbia-US relations.

Also, as Kasanoff added, credit goes to the President of Serbia for the decisions he made during the process and for his efforts.

"The US sees a tremendous opportunity to be a partner with Serbia," Kasanof said, adding that the potential for cooperation is vast, from supporting Ukraine, currently Europe's biggest security challenge, to collaboration in the field of clean energy.

"The energy agreement between Serbia and the US represents a turning point in our relations and partnership, and it demonstrates how we can cooperate in the future on the clean energy agenda. Both the Serbian people and American companies and citizens will benefit. This is a fundamental step toward where we want to be in the near future, and a step forward in our relations, but also a step forward in supporting Serbia's Euro-Atlantic integration, as well as the region," he said.

Kasanof emphasizes that the US wants to continue and deepen cooperation with Serbia by focusing on areas where joint efforts can be made in the Western Balkans, the Euro-Atlantic zone, and beyond.

In this context, he reminds that Serbia and the US are partners in the peace mission on the Sinai Peninsula, citing it as an example of cooperation on security issues.

He also mentions that the lithium project could enhance relations across the Euro-Atlantic area and also benefit everyone.

"That project can help Serbia move forward but also benefit its neighbors due to economic growth. The US supports Euro-Atlantic integration, and this could bring benefits to many," he added.

Kasanof notes that the US sees an incredible opportunity in the Western Balkans at this moment.

As he says, for the first time in a long period, there are positive developments that were unimaginable a few years or even decades ago.

"I mean Euro-Atlantic integration for all six countries in the region, significant economic leaps, and closer ties within Euro-Atlantic integration, whether with the EU or NATO. Serbia is, of course, crucial because of its historically significant role in the region and as the largest country in the Western Balkans," he said.

He observes that Serbia has shown enormous economic potential, achieving significant progress in employment, GDP growth, and moving up the value chain.

"We want to see this continue because of the benefits it brings to Serbia, the Serbian people, and, frankly, the Euro-Atlantic space, as well as the entire Western Balkans," he said, adding that cooperation is particularly important, both between the region's countries and with the US and the EU.

Economic cooperation, as he notes, allows "a new page to be turned on the conflicts of the 1990s," leading into a new era focused on positive developments and improving relations in the Western Balkans.