Serwer: Serbia improved cooperation with America through wise diplomacy and lobbying

American expert on the Western Balkans and professor at John Hopkins University, Daniel Serwer, assessed that Serbia, thanks to wise lobbying and diplomacy, had improved relations with the US, Gazeta Express reports.

"Serbia has acted smartly in diplomatic and lobbying channels, and now it finds greater approval from the US than in the past. Kosovo has said 'no' to the US several times because what was requested was not assessed by the Kosovo government as its interest," Serwer said.

However, the American professor says that he cannot find any reason that could make the US praise Serbia's policy towards Russia and Ukraine.

"As far as I know, the US has not held Serbia responsible for not complying with European Union sanctions against Russia or for providing more than nominal support to Ukraine. It seems that the Americans were mistaken. Of course, there may be something that I don't know, but there is no good reason that I can think of that the US praises Serbia's policy towards Ukraine," Serwer said.

He states that the "soft" approach of the US and the views of the American ambassador in Belgrade, Christopher Hill, should have contributed to "separating Serbia from Russia", but Serwer does not see this strategy succeeding.

"This is not working because there is no indication of a break with Russia or a more pro-Western direction of Serbia. Serbia is sitting on two chairs - China and Russia, not the US and the EU," he said.