Vucic: People cannot move toward future while having poor relations with U.S

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The U.S. wants the tariffs imposed by Pristina on goods from Serbia lifted so that the parties can return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement that will make it easier not only for Serbia and Kosovo, but also the entire Western Balkans, to have a European future, Matthew Palmer, U.S. deputy assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, said after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Palmer and Vucic voiced different opinions on NATO’s 1999 bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, but stressed that the people should turn toward the future. “We deeply regret the loss of lives, but NATO reached such a decision [on the bombing] for reasons that are absolutely possible to explain. Instead of constantly looking back, we should encourage the people to look ahead and direct the citizens of Serbia and Kosovo toward a European future,” Palmer added. Vucic said that there was no good reason for “NATO’s aggression against FRY in 1999,” adding, however, that if Serbia’s citizens thought they should advance while having poor relations with the U.S. they should find a new president or a new government.

Vucic also said that he was unsure that a meeting of the Western Balkans leaders announced for July 1 in Paris would take place at all, while Palmer expressed the hope that the meeting would be constructive and that the two sides would move toward an agreement.