U.S. Official: Mutual Recognition Only Durable Solution for Kosovo, Serbia

Philip T. Reeker (YouTube screenshot)

Senior U.S. official Philip Reeker said during a July 2 visit to Ohrid, North Macedonia, that there was a need for mutual recognition between Kosovo and Serbia, which he believed was a durable solution that should be the result of dialogue, Sloboden Pecat, a local portal, quoted Reeker as saying.

Speaking during the Prespa Forum Dialogue, he expressed reservations about the refusal to liberalize EU visas for Kosovo travellers, which he believes weakens the motivation to approach the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue in the spirit of compromise and flexibility.

"We believe a durable solution should involve mutual recognition, which will allow the two countries to genuinely put aside their differences, place history in a context and move toward a safer future and stability, Philip Reeker, who  serves as the acting assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, said.

Serbian Prime Minister Brnabic said that at a meeting with Reeker she did not discuss mutual recognition between Serbia and Kosovo, and that the subject wasn't brought up at all, but that the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and the Brussels agreement were discussed instead.