Lajcak: I Appreciate Washington’s Interest, but Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Should Be Run by EU

Lajcak

EU Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Miroslav Lajcak has said that he appreciates Washington’s interest in the talks, but that the process should be run by the European Union because the EU is “the final destination for the sides involved.”

“I appreciate the good will of all our American friends and their efforts to help. At the same time it is important to understand that the process between Belgrade and Pristina should be lead by the European Union, because [the EU] is the final destination for the sides involved. It is also clear that the U.S. activities are a reflection of the election agenda. Still, as I have said, we welcome all assistance,” Lajcak told the Slovak Pravda newspaper.

According to the Radio Free Europe’s report in the evening on Oct. 13, Lajcak also said that it is important to see what will happen with infrastructure projects, such as roads and railways, mentioned in the agreements on economic normalization Serbia and Kosovo had signed in the presence of U.S. President Donald Trump last September in Washington.

According to him, the normalization of relations between Kosovo and Serbia is one of the three challenges in the Western Balkans.

“Two years ago we said we have three major challenges in the region. The issue of Macedonia’s name has been resolved. If we could continue to go forward in normalizing relations between Kosovo and Serbia, we could focus our full attention to how Bosnia and Herzegovina should function,” the special representative said.