US-Serbia relations are on the up and up. Following Secretary Blinken’s announcement that the US and Serbia recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create liaison positions for Serbian diplomats at the Department of State, a State Department spokesperson revealed for The Pavlovic Today on Thursday the details of this new and unique program.
As a result of a Memorandum of Understanding, Serbian diplomats will have an opportunity to come to Washington DC and serve within the US Department of State.
“This program will not only foster a better understanding of our respective foreign policy goals and objectives but will forge new channels of communication and build lasting partnerships,” a State Department spokesperson confirmed to The Pavlovic Today.
According to a State Department spokesperson, the program will allow one Serbian diplomat per year to join the State Department for up to 12 months.
“We look forward to welcoming the first Serbian officer at the Department in fall 2023. The assignment details are to be determined,” said a State Department spokesperson.
Yesterday, Ned Price told The Pavlovic Today what’s behind Secretary Blinken’s optimism for the “strategic partnership” between the two countries.
“We’ve been with Serbia over the course of decades, standing by its side as a partner in the face of various challenges,” said Price.
According to Blinken’s spokesperson, the accelerated bilateral relations and Blinken’s engagement to see tensions between Belgarde and Pristina ease up represent an opportunity for the people of Serbia and Kosovo to build bridges among their respective communities and the United States and Europe at large.
THE VIEW OF THE WESTERN BALKANS
Gabriel Escobar Exclusive Interview: The view of the Western Balkans from inside the State Department
History must be careful not to miss out on the current affairs in the Western Balkans. Against the backdrop of Russia’s raging war in Ukraine, the EU and US are marching in lockstep to normalize Serbia-Kosovo relations. While the French-German proposal, designed under the auspices of the European Union, is being debated in the Serbian Assembly,…
MORE ON THE WESTERN BALKANS
Clear Message From State Department: US Stance On Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue Including The Association Of Serb Majority Municipalities “Has Not Changed”
The United States’ stance on the EU-led Dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina “has not changed,” according to a State Department spokesperson speaking to The Pavlovic Today. The clarification from the State Department follows remarks made on camera earlier this week by the US Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill. He suggested that the formation of the…
Keep reading
State Department’s Message To Kosovo And Serbia: Constructive Engagement And Concrete Progress Expected In The Coming Days
In a significant diplomatic development, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs and Special Representative to the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, is on a crucial mission to the Balkan region this weekend. Notably, he is accompanying the EU Special Representative Miroslav Lajcak, along with a contingent of senior national security officials…
Keep reading
Petar Petković: Kosovo Needs De-Escalation And Dialogue, Not Conflict
In a high-level gathering convened today in Brussels, Petar Petković, the Director of the Office for Kosovo and Belgrade’s chief negotiator in the EU-led dialogue with Pristina, delivered a comprehensive address to ambassadors, representatives from EU member states, and officials from the European Commission and the European External Action Service. The central focus of this…
Keep reading