[ad_1]
A senior State Department official told VOA that the United States is committed to working with the European Union, which is enabling dialogue between Serbia and Kosovo.
The comments of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Molly Montgomery, come as the leader of the Vendundeje movement, Albin Kurti, is expected to be Kosovo’s next prime minister following his party’s victory in the February 14th elections.
Asked about the possibility of a US-mediated dialogue, Ms. Mongomery told VOA: “We continue to support the EU-facilitated Belgrade-Pristina dialogue, and look forward to a comprehensive agreement, a normalization agreement. that would lead to mutual recognition, or on the basis of mutual recognition. ”
Voice of America: Has the perspective of the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue faded?
Molly Montgomery: We continue to support the Belgrade-Pristina dialogue facilitated by the European Union, and look forward to a comprehensive agreement, a normalization agreement that would lead to mutual recognition, or on the basis of mutual recognition. This will be our goal towards the future.
Voice of America: Do you see a Washington-mediated Serbia-Kosovo dialogue, independent of a parallel European Union effort, under President Biden?
Molly Montgomery: We are committed to working with the EU that is enabling dialogue, and with our partners together. It is a very important principle for our engagement in the Western Balkans. We know that we have been most successful there when cooperation has been close with our European allies and partners, so this will be our approach.
The US will closely monitor the investment agreement between the EU and China
The United States will carefully consider China’s commitments on an investment agreement signed last December between the European Union and China, Montgomery told VOA.
This comes as the administration of President Joe Biden is working closely with European allies to counter what US officials describe as China’s activities to undermine common values and rules based on international order.
“If China were to make additional concessions in that agreement on things like market access or forced labor, we would definitely welcome it. “But we would hold China accountable for such commitments, for them to implement them.”, said the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs.
The EU-China Comprehensive Investment Agreement is seen as a geopolitical victory for China and a blow to transatlantic relations, despite concerns in the European Parliament over the deal.
Voice of America: What is the main policy priority of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs in the coming years?
Molly Montgomery: The President has made it very clear, starting with the inauguration speech, that our priority is to rebuild relations with our allies and partners in Europe. We believe that they are the cornerstone of everything we are trying to do, be it the fight against coronavirus, climate change or countering malicious activities by Russia and China. We want to work with our European partners. But we also, I will say, continue to believe that our goal for Europe is a whole, free, prosperous and peaceful Europe. We will work towards this goal for the next four years.
Voice of America: As China competes with the United States for vaccine distribution and pandemic recovery in Europe, what is your comment on the CHINA-CEEC group, also known as the “17 plus 1” virtual summit between China and Central and Eastern Europe?
Molly Montgomery: I think all countries, whether the United States or Europe, have a very complex multilateral relationship with China. There are parts of that relationship that are conflicting. Some of them are competitive and there are also areas where we want to cooperate with China. So I think our focus is multilateral work with our allies and partners to strengthen cooperation and find areas where we can work with China, such as climate change, but also to be aware that there are economic activities that we need to address. we oppose. There are threats to our values and there are human rights violations, such as those in Xinjang and Hong Kong. And especially the genocide, (for which) the US government has spoken very clearly, was committed against the predominantly Uighur Muslim population in China. We are truly focused on working with our allies and partners to develop a common agenda as we explore this complex relationship with China and to uphold our common values and interests.
Voice of America: We are hearing voices from European countries expressing suspicions that America is shaking from its stance that genocide was committed against the Uighur population in Xinjiang. Is the US position faltering?
Molly Montgomery: The United States has been very clear – Secretary Blinken has been very clear – that we believe what happened in Xinjiang is genocide, that crimes against humanity have been committed against the Uighur population. We have been very clear that these are very serious crimes and there should be accountability. We have condemned these activities, these crimes – and made it clear that we want to see a ban on these human rights violations, forced sterilization, torture, and other crimes committed against the Uighur population in Xinjang .
Voice of America: Let’s talk about the distribution of vaccines. Serbia and Hungary have become the first European countries to use China’s coronavirus vaccine. Meanwhile, many European countries rely on the vaccine produced by the American company Pfizer. Is there a division? Is the United States pushing European countries to choose between Washington and Beijing?
Molly Montgomery: Jo. We are not asking people to choose between the United States and China. At the same time, we believe we are stronger when we work together to defend our common values and interests. For this reason, since the first month of coming to power, the administration has been deeply committed to multilateral forums (to work) with allies and partners, as well as with countries like China, to promote global health security. We want to work together to end this pandemic. We also know that China uses the multilateral system to promote its interests to undermine some of our common values. So we want to work very closely with our partners and allies to protect these interests, and to oppose the undermining of the international order by China.
Voice of America: How confident is the United States to work with European allies for a unified approach to China following the European Union-China investment agreement? Did the United States get caught up in this deal?
Molly Montgomery: We look forward to consulting with the European Union on the investment agreement. As Secretary Blinken said, our allies have certainly heard that we are eager to find areas where we can work together on China, based on our common values and to promote our common interests.
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
