US Special Envoy for the Western Balkans Garbiel Escobar said today that Belgrade and Pristina should continue the dialogue to normalize relations.  

"We have made it clear that dialogue is a form in which both sides, as equals, must work to resolve their differences and normalize relations, ideally through mutual recognition," Escobar told a hearing before the European Commission's Subcommittee on Foreign Affairs. home.  

Dialogue has proven to function as a form of problem-solving, he added, and said he could not wait for Miroslav Lajcak to continue working hard on much more challenging issues.  

"Dialogue is a form through which a solution can be found. We strongly support Lajчакk's efforts to initiate a dialogue, from our perspective we are here to help both sides adhere to the agreements reached. "In the meantime, although we are not part of the dialogue, we are still working very closely with Lajcak to make both sides flexible and pragmatic, aiming for a solution." 

He also expressed support for the "Open Balkans" initiative. 

"We think it will bring people together, it will create trust between people, so we will support any effort that brings countries together economically." The leaders personally assured us that this initiative is open to other countries in the Western Balkans. "It is good to have a regional market of 20 million people," said Escobar.  

He noted that President Joe Biden's administration is also encouraging US private investment in Serbia.  

"Chinese investment has been an advantage because it is state-funded, but we support US investment in Serbia," he said.  

Escobar welcomed the Serbian Army's participation in international peacekeeping missions and noted its good co-operation with the Ohio National Guard. 

"Our relations with Serbia are improving at the expense of Russia," he stressed.