(21 Dec 2018) Serbia's president said Friday he did not share US President Donald Trump's optimism that an agreement between Serbia and Kosovo is "within reach" two decades after their war.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that a letter sent by Trump expressing that opinion is "rational" and welcome, but also added that "we are far from any kind of agreement."
In almost identical letters to the Serbian and Kosovo leaders, Trump has urged the two to secure a "historic" deal that would bring "long-sought" peace to the Balkan region.
Kosovo broke away from Serbia after a 1998-99 war and NATO intervention that stopped a bloody Serbian crackdown against Kosovo Albanian separatists.
In 2008, Kosovo unilaterally declared independence which is recognised by the US and most of the West, but not by Serbia and its allies Russia and China.
Serbia and Kosovo have been conducting European Union-mediated talks aimed at normalising relations.
Trump's letter is seen as sign that Washington is willing to take a more active role in mediating between the two foes.
"Don't forget that America has recognised Kosovo's independence and that America will not easily change that decision," Vucic said at a joint news conference with Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras.
Tsipras said he supports the EU-sponsored dialogue in Brussels and urged Serbia and Kosovo to work out a compromise.
Asked whether Russia could oppose any Trump initiative in the region, Vucic said he has not seen any negative reaction from Moscow, announcing that Russian President Vladimir Putin is arriving in Belgrade for an official visit on January 17.
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