Former US Ambassador to Belgrade Christopher Hill said in an interview with Radio Free Europe that he does not expect Washington to actively intervene in solving the problems in the Balkans, including the long-standing dispute between Kosovo and Serbia, as it was in the past, BTA reports.
According to him, the region is no longer among the main foreign policy priorities of the United States, which means that the solutions must come from the countries in it themselves.
„The Balkans, of course, are unfinished business in Europe, but the people of the region need to understand that other important events are happening in the world,“ Hill emphasized. “They should not expect anyone to put aside the crisis in Ukraine or the tensions in the Middle East to focus on Kosovo.“
Hill noted that the US still maintains engagement through its special envoy for the Balkans and retains interests in the region, but is unlikely to take a leading role in resolving the conflicts.
In connection with the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, conducted under the auspices of the European Union, Hill emphasized the need for Kosovo to fulfill its commitment from the 2013 Brussels Agreement, including the creation of a Union of Serbian Municipalities.
He stressed that US commitments in the region are not unilateral:
“The US has significant interests in Serbia that are not related to Kosovo. Belgrade's support for Ukraine is important and we want it to continue. "But that doesn't mean we're against Kosovo - on the contrary, we have significant interests there as well," Hill said.