Hill: Recognition of Kosovo is not on the table; it’s about the normalization of relations

Ambassador Christopher Hill of the United States said in an interview with Euronews Serbia that during the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, recognition was not on the table, but rather the normalization of relations. He added that what was on the table was known to both sides, and Serbia had fundamentally accepted it.

When asked about messages coming from leading European countries such as Italy, Germany, and France, which mentioned de facto recognition, Hill said that the choice of words should certainly be considered, but the US saw it as a story about the normalization of relations.

“In fact, de facto means that they want some kind of normalization process. I know that words matter. Words are especially important during elections. However, I don’t want to get into word games. What I want to say is that what is on the table is known to both sides. Serbia has fundamentally accepted what is on it. There is an understanding that we are moving forward, and it is based on these agreements. There will be questions about how to ensure that these agreements are clear, and to ensure that the sequence of obligations on both sides is equally clear. I genuinely think there has been a lot of progress, but this issue must be resolved once and for all. It is in the interest of Serbia and Kosovo”, Hill said.

He says that European officials, regarding the relations between Belgrade and Pristina, insist on normalization rather than recognition, and that recognition is not on the table. He also emphasizes that the dialogue is crucial for the future lives of people in Kosovo.

“First of all, what is on the table, of course, is not recognition. What it is, is normalization. And I think the situation must be normalized. People in northern Kosovo must wake up in the morning knowing how their lives will look. There must be the possibility for people to travel wherever they want. There must be an understanding of all these issues”, he said.

Hill also adds that the job of the European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, is very difficult, and he believes that Lajcak is working on it diligently.

“I don’t want to further complicate his job because it’s one of the toughest jobs in the world. I think they really are trying to make some progress. I also think that what the European Union signals is that they closely monitor progress on the dialogue because that progress will determine progress on potential EU membership”, the ambassador added.

About Chapter 35 and the events in Banjska

Commenting on the draft conclusions of the upcoming summit and the statement that it requires the Council of the European Commission and the High Representative to urgently propose to the Council amendments to the criteria for Chapter 35 of the accession negotiations, which would imply that the Brussels Agreement and its annex from Ohrid become a part of the integration process for EU membership, Hill says that the US certainly supports Serbia’s aspirations to become a part of the European bloc.

“I think Serbia would be a good member of the European Union. What is the structure of membership… Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was very clear. She is interested in Serbia which can become a member, that can contribute to the strength and security of the European Union. I hope that in 2023, which has been a tough year in many ways, we have actually made some progress, and that we will see a situation in which this long wait and this period in which the future is uncertain will become clearer as we enter 2024”, Hill says.

Hill believes that the implementation of agreements is crucial, and the EU will carefully monitor the issue of their implementation.

“I think it will be carefully, carefully watched. However, speaking as someone who has dealt with agreements, I can say that sometimes it is easier to reach an agreement. The harder part is how to sequence the demands of both sides. So I think there is a lot of work to be done. I hope some progress can be made. But one thing, when you are a negotiator, a mediator as in this case Mr. Lajcak, the last thing you need is to have a US Ambassador giving you suggestions on what to do on Euronews”, he noted.

He also adds that the US supports what Europeans are doing, thinking that it is in everyone’s interest. He says he hopes that some agreement can be reached as soon as possible.

In the interview, Hill also stated that the events in Banjska had, in a way, disrupted the dialogue and had led to new tensions between Belgrade and Pristina.

“It was very harmful to all those involved. There was a loss of life, which is terrible. I think trust, which is hard-won in this process, has been further compromised due to Banjska”, he said.

As he adds, it is now necessary to clarify all the issues around this matter and work in the future to ensure that similar or the same things do not happen again.

“A few things need to happen. First, it must be clear what happened, and who is responsible for it. Second, I think that is very, very important. There must be a stronger mechanism, and a greater ability to ensure that this will not happen again. You know, this whole dialogue process is very fragile, and I think more incidents like Banjska and more incidents of that kind, tragic events like those that happened on September 24… That is simply too much for this dialogue to continue. I also think it’s important to understand that Serbia will have to continue with these demands within the framework of the growth plan, and many such demands must be addressed. And third, as we have already discussed, progress must continue in the dialogue, which is crucial. And honestly, that is the only way this issue will be resolved – through the dialogue process with the mediation of the European Union”, Hill said.

“I would like to see Serbia achieving its aspirations”

Regarding Serbia’s foreign policy, Hill also stated that Serbia was helping Ukraine, which had been at war with Russia for almost two years. The impression is, he says, that it is not talked about too much, but the cooperation between these two countries is quite visible.

“I think Serbia and Ukraine have always had a good history. Just this year, the two presidents met three times. The First Lady of Serbia went to Kyiv for a conference of the first ladies of the world. There was also a Ukrainian delegation from the Chamber of Commerce, and they reached a Memorandum of Understanding with the Serbian delegation. Other things are happening, and all in all, I think it speaks to the fact that Serbia is helping Ukraine, and we appreciate that very much”, Hill said.
Reflecting on the fact that Serbia is not progressing on its European path, and there are two reasons for that: non-compliance with sanctions against Russia and a lack of normalization of relations with Kosovo, Hill says that this issue should be addressed primarily to European officials, but the US would certainly like to see Serbia achieving its aspirations.

“Obviously, when Europe considers members, it looks at compliance and that question in general. But it’s really not for an American to suggest what it should look like. I mean, we certainly would like to see Serbia capable of realizing its aspirations to join the European Union. We would like to see that. I think it’s in everyone’s interest, and we hope these issues can be resolved. However, I don’t want to put myself in a position to dictate how Serbia should comply or what the European Union should do. Europeans, in a way, have to align themselves with where Serbia is. It’s a question for the citizens of Serbia, whether they want to join the European Union. If they do, I think the European Union has been clear about what Serbia needs to do”, he concluded.

Asked whether he thought that the US and the European Union were also somewhat tired due to the lack of progress and how both would approach this in the next, election year, Hill says that implementation is the key word that can lead to certain results.

“The year 2024 is an election year. I avoid getting involved in Serbia’s internal affairs, but I also avoid getting involved in our internal affairs because I represent US citizens in Serbia. But yes, you are absolutely right; it adds an additional burden to the whole process. I think that’s why everyone feels the pace needs to be accelerated. There are no more surprises; we know precisely what is needed. The point is to come up with an implementation plan that includes a sequence. I think that’s entirely doable, and no elections, whether held in the US or anywhere else, should have any involvement in that”, Hill stated