Gabriel Escobar holds news conference in Serbia: This region is seen as great potential, not place of conflict

Photo: Instagram/buducnostsrbijeav/

US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Gabriel Escobar has held a press conference in Serbia.

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"The purpose of my visit is to work with political leaders in the region on looking for ways to move forward. From the perspective of the US, we believe that this agreement gives the best opportunity to move the region forward," Escobar said at the beginning and added:

"Our expectations are that the two leaders will be able to meet and face each other. The region would benefit from mutual recognition. As for the UN and the EU, the goal is faster integration of Serbia and Kosovo into the EU," he said.

This agreement encourages greater integration not only of Kosovo, but also of Serbia in all international processes, he said.

"By implementing the agreement on the community with the Serb majority, we hope to improve the position of the Serbs in Kosovo," said Escobar.

"I wouldn't dwell on the negative aspects," he said, referring also to the Kosovo elections:

"We would like to see as much Serb participation in the Kosovo elections as possible. To see to that they participate in the elections."

Asked what is happening in other parts of the Serb community, such as the police:

"We would like Serbs to participate in all parts of the community and not only to be candidates in those elections, but to return as teachers, judges, police officers... to return to institutions," he concluded.

"This part of Europe is the fastest growing part of the continent and is seen as a leader in the IT industry, renewable energy in the 21st century... But people who live here don't believe it. They think this is a region of conflict. The exact opposite is true. It is a region with huge capacity, a promising region," he said.

He added that everything that was once agreed remains valid, and that includes the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).

"I would like this agreement to open the door and to finally have a normalization of relations between Serbia and Kosovo."

The US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State met yesterday with President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic.

"An open and fair conversation with the US representative. I believe in the further improvement of relations between Serbia and the US," President Vucic said after the meeting.

(Telegraf.rs)