Grenell Says Not Here to Put Pressure on Anyone, but to Help Serbia's and Kosovo's Economic Growth

Richard Grenell (Beta/Milan Obradovic)

The U.S. president's special envoy for the negotiations between Belgrade and Pristina, Richard Grenell, said on Jan. 24 in Belgrade that his job was not to put pressure on anyone, but rather to connect the two sides so that the economies of Serbia and Kosovo achieved growth.

We are coming to connect you, I have no agenda nor idea. I will not put pressure on you, I want to connect you so that your economies grow, so that more opportunities are created for young people to stay here and to have hope. I am trying to focus on creating a dynamic in the economy while leaving the politics to you, Grenell said in Belgrade, at a joint press conference after a meeting with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic.

Grenell reiterated that he "made it clear" at every meeting on Jan. 23 in Kosovo that the tariffs on Serbian imports had to be lifted, but that he was bringing the same demand to Belgrade, that Serbia must stop its campaign for the withdrawal of Kosovo's recognition.

That campaign must stop, we should focus on the economy, on creating more and more jobs, said Grenell.

Asked whether it was fair to tie the demand for the annulment of import tariffs to the demand for an end to the campaign for Kosovo's derecognition, Grenell said that it was not up to him to decide whether something was fair or not, that it was up to the two sides involved to judge. He added that he was trying to focus on a brighter future for the people of Serbia and Kosovo and put politics aside.

Regarding his statement on Jan. 23 that U.S. President Donald Trump would not allow the resolving of the Serbia-Kosovo dispute to take too long if there was no progress, Grenell said that he could not predict the future, but that he felt excitement and energy.

I feel excitement and energy because we are starting to talk and make some progress. If the two sides decide they no longer want to talk, I will go and do something else, added the U.S. diplomat.