U.S. Senator: It Should Be Explained to People of Kosovo and Serbia that Agreement Is in Their Interest

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson during visit to Belgrade (Beta/Milos Miskov)

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson has said that “it must be explained to the people of Kosovo and Serbia that an agreement which they may not like is in their interest.”

In an interview with Voice of America’s Ukrainian service, the U.S. senator, who toured Belgrade and Pristina last week, said it was on the leaders of Serbia and Kosovo to decide whether a settlement was possible to achieve.

“I have been much engaged on this issue over the past few years. I think that both countries are aware that it is in their interest to leave the differences behind and reach an agreement,” Johnson said.  

He added that both countries wished to see “more U.S. engagement.”

“I think that we will offer it, but not in terms of imposing anything or exerting pressure, but only in term of our support to their effort and creating conditions where leaders of both countries could count on the support of the U.S. and Europe, after they achieve an agreement,” the senator said.  

According to him, a settlement will generate a number of benefits in relation to further integration in the EU economy, greater freedom of travel and more successful economies, as once an agreement is in place, it would be easier to attract foreign investments.