DFC: U.S. Knows Normalization of Belgrade-Pristina Relations Cannot Happen without Resolution of Political Issues

John Jovanovic ((BETAPHOTO/SRBIAN GOVERNMENT/SLOBODAN MILJEVIC)

According to John Jovanovic, the head of the Belgrade office of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), Washington is aware that the relations between Kosovo and Serbia cannot be normalized until all political issues have been resolved.

“The long-term goal is to have the significant political point of contention between Belgrade and Pristina resolved once and for all, but that is not possible without an economic collaboration. Look at it as a building of trust. A person cannot just jump out of bed and into a marathon. Preparations have to be made first,” Jovanovic said for the Oct. 22 issue of the Nedeljnik weekly.  

According to him, the two sides cannot afford to waste or miss out on opportunities. “All should be aware that time irrevocably passes. That the youth is leaving. That the region is missing opportunities,” the head of the DFC office said.

Jovanovic, a Serb-American who grew up in Chicago, further drew attention to the great importance of investing in infrastructure, which is what the DFC office in Belgrade will mainly be doing.

The office was opened in late September, as part of the agreement on the normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo, signed on Sept. 4 at the White House.