On October 11, a phone call between Secretary Blinken, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic and Kosovo’s PM Albin Kurti took place. Speaking to The Pavlovic Today, Price confirmed that Blinken talked to President Aleksandar Vucic and revealed more details about the conversation they had.
“You are correct that the Secretary did have an opportunity to speak with Serbian President Vucic and Prime Minister Kurti on October 11,” Price confirmed.
Secretary Blinken, according to Price, “took the opportunity to underscore” the US support for the ongoing EU-facilitated dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia. Blinken, said Price, urged “continued constructive steps” and engagement to secure peace and stability in the Western Balkans.
Speaking of the conversation between the US Secretary and the Serbian President, Price said Blinken “made very clear that the United States is a partner to Serbia.”
To Kurti and Vucic, Secretary Blinken noted that the United States “supports their European aspirations” and will “continue to back them.”
Regarding energy diversification, The Pavlovic Today asked Price to outline US expectations for Serbia. According to Price, the point Blinken made with the Serbian president was “similar” to the one that the US made to countries around the world.
“Recent events and actions, including those in the heart of the Russian government, have only underscored the imperative of increasing resilience to potential disruptions in energy supply,” said Price. “Whether they’re manmade or otherwise,” the US expectations for Serbia and Kosovo are no different and revolve around energy diversification that would help ensure that “no country can be held hostage to the weaponization attempted of energy by any other country, or entity.”
Price reflected on the worldwide implications of the war in Ukraine and “what President Putin has sought to do, throughout Europe.”
Price said that the US goal in bilateral relations is to do “what we can” to support “greater resilience,” and energy diversification “to see to it that countries aren’t held hostage to this sort of policy.”
