Escobar: Unilateral moves will have consequences

Photo: Filip Plavcic

The US special envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, said today that country is completely clear that there should be no unilateral moves, and that such moves would have consequences.

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Speaking for Tanjug, regarding Pristina's decision to postpone the implementation of the so-called central bank of Kosovo's ban on the use of the Serbian dinar in Kosovo and Metohija, he pointed out that these issues should be communicated with deadlines that do not affect the population.

"We are ready to help solve the problem, but Belgrade and Pristina must return to dialogue and respect existing agreements," he said.

According to him, many of these issues could be solved by establishing the Community of Serb Municipalities (ZSO).

When asked whether "the address to turn to for assistance to the Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija is in Brussels or in Washington" Escobar said that the US fully supports the dialogue under the auspices of the EU, and is making every effort in order for it to continue, as well as that the dialogue is the only channel for solving "bilateral" issues.

"Our technical support, our economic support, and our political influence are behind it, because at the end of the day, our greatest aspiration is for Kosovo and Serbia to join the European Union. And in the meantime, to develop peaceful, productive and efficient bilateral relations," Escobar said.

Referring to Serbia's upcoming Statehood Day holiday, Escobar said that he wishes for "continued development of friendship between our two countries."

"We've done a lot in the past three years with (ambassador) Marko Djuric here and we want to continue. He has done a lot for Serbia and we will miss him," said Escobar, who was a guest at a reception organized by the Serbian Embassy in Washington to mark Statehood Day, February 15.

(Telegraf.rs)