American Senators: Without Implementing Agreement with Serbia, Kosovo Cannot Join EU or NATO

U.S. Senator Chris Murphy during visit to Belgrade (Beta/Milos Miskov)

The two U.S. senators from the Democratic Party, Chris Murphy and Gary Peters, have said in Pristina that failure to implement the agreement with Serbia could prevent Kosovo from integrating in the EU and NATO.

“Those are the consequences the citizens of Kosovo and Serbia could face unless their leaders made difficult political decisions necessary for normalization of relations, and then also for international recognition,” Murphy said, adding he would tell the same to Belgrade officials. Senator Peters said that failure to resolve disputes with Serbia had cost Pristina foreign investments, because, although Kosovo was an attractive destination for doing business, investors required security and relations with Serbia.

The senators stressed that compromises undermining Kosovo’s sovereignty and security would not be accepted, adding that an Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities could be created only in a way which would not violate Kosovo’s sovereignty. Murphy said that Kosovo had to fulfill this obligation, while Serbia had to stop blocking Kosovo’s membership in international organizations.

“There are reasons for which creation of an Association/Community of Serb-majority Municipalities is demanded. And there is a realistic belief that the Community can in parallel provide important services to the people who live there,” Murphy said.