Grenell: Talks Were Difficult, Vucic Is a Tough Negotiator  

Richard Grenell (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

The U.S. special envoy for Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, Richard Grenell, has said that the last week’s talks at the White House were difficult and that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic was “a very tough negotiator.”

“I would like to stress one thing – President Vucic was a tough negotiator, he really fights for his Serbian people, and that is exactly what we expect. We expect people to come and fight for their citizens,” Grenell told Serbian Radio Chicago.  

Asked whether the U.S. would guarantee the implementation of the agreement, including the protection of all religious sites in Kosovo, and whether plans were in place for the reconstruction of some of the destroyed sanctuaries, Grenell replied that “such a level of details” had not been reached yet.  

“The U.S., of course, will be there to help, but our philosophy is that the process has to be carried out by people, the nation in the region, the Serbian people…people there, those how live and work there... We do not want to impose our rules or opinions,” Grenell said. He added that if Washington was requested to assist in financing programs or projects, then the people would have to take part in how the funds would be spent.