UNPO - Kosova: Independence is a Milestone Achievement

Below is an article published by New Kosova Report:

Comparing the situation in Kosovo from eight years ago when he was in Kosovo, Ambassador Dell has emphasized "that now everything has changed for the better and seen progress everywhere around. But the creation of a state, highlighted Ambassador Dell, is very major project. He emphasized that the government should continue efforts to further building and strengthening of state institutions and governance structures, to work harder for the country's economic development, for reducing unemployment and fighting corruption.

The U.S. Ambassador pointed a particular achievement, the progress made in improving inter-ethnic relations, and has called this progress to continue further. The United States Ambassador in Prishtina said that more work should be done in strengthening the rule of law in order for Kosovo to become a strong democracy where the law is fully respected. Achievements in these areas will help Kosovo to meet EU integration ambitions.

Regarding the Republic of Kosovo local elections scheduled to be held in November, U.S. Ambassador Dell pointed the historical fact that this is the first time Kosovo organizes the elections itself. These elections,he said, would forward the process of decentralization, which is provided with the Ahtisaari Plan.

"The United States has doubled the budget to monitor these elections in Kosovo estimating around 4 million dollars, and the U.S. will send its monitoring team to monitor their regularity," the U.S Ambassador said.

As for Serb participation in the elections, Ambassador Dell said that this event is a chance that will not be repeated, "it is time for Serbs to begin to take their responsibilities to their political future in Kosovo".

According to Dell, "it would take more time for Serbia to accept the new reality created in independent Kosovo, but I think," Dell said that "this change is happening."

In the interview for RTK, Ambassador Dell advised that for all these to happen we have to be patient, because changes do not happen overnight.

"I think that the local Serb community in Kosovo is noticing that Serbia's influence on them here is being faded, which is helping to change the attitudes," said Dell.

Regarding the north, the Ambassador Dell said , "U.S. strongly supports the position that the north is an integral part of Kosovo, independent state of Kosovo, and must remain thus. Serbia's idea of division of territories has been discredited in the 20th century and it brought nothing but destruction and bloodshed. The idea for separation or exchange of territories should not be taken seriously today in the 21st century."