"Serbia is a key US partner in the region," and from China and Russian

Serbia, US agree to disagree on Kosovo

12/04/2010

A visit by the US deputy secretary of state highlights improved ties, despite the lingering issue of Kosovo's independence.

By Bojana Milovanovic and Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Belgrade and Pristina --12/04/10

US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg (left) and Valentin Inzko, the EU's Special Representative for Bosnia and Herzegovina, held talks in Sarajevo on April 6th. [Getty Images]

During his recent tour of the Balkans, US Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg declared relations between the United States and Serbia as "excellent". While Serbian President Boris Tadic reiterated that Belgrade will never recognise Kosovo, Steinberg did not see that as an impediment to progress in other areas. One significant item was continued US support for Serbia's EU candidacy.
"Serbia is a key US partner in the region," Steinberg said, praising Belgrade's efforts to build a European future. "The United States supports Serbia on its path to membership in the EU and the WTO."
He particularly welcomed the Serbian parliament's adoption, on March 31st, of a declaration condemning the 1995 Srebrenica atrocity.
At a press conference Thursday (April 8th), Tadic said he and Steinberg had discussed the political situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and agreed that fears of new warfare were unfounded.
"The situation is being dramatised and I do not know for what purpose," Tadic said. "Problems should be identified through rational and democratic dialogue" among Bosniaks, Serbs and Croats, he said.

Setimes

“Serbia is China’s strategic partner”
14 February 2010 | 10:40 | Source: Blic
BELGRADE -- Chinese ambassador to Serbia Wei Jinghua said that Serbia became China’s main strategic partner in Southeast Europe last year.

Last year, the countries increased exchanges and cooperation in trade, Wei told daily Blic.

“During President Tadc’s visit to China, both sides signed agreements on economic and technological cooperation in the field of infrastructure. Chinese road and bridge corporations and companies for exports and imports of equipment signed separate pre-agreements with Serbia for projects for the Zemun-Bor
a Bridge and the revitalization and construction of the Kostolac thermo-electric plant,” Wei said.

The Chinese automotive company Dongfeng and Serbian automobile factory FAP from Priboj finished preparations for work on a new cooperation project, he said, adding that he hopes that these projects will be realized successfully so that more Chinese companies will want to invest in Serbia.

The ambassador stressed that China remains firm on its position regarding Kosovo.

“China always supports the efforts of Serbia in its defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and insists on the preservation of international laws and norms of international relations, as well as the UN Security Council’s Resolution 1244,” Wei said.

He reminded that China submitted a written report to the International Court of Justice regarding the legality of Kosovo’s unilaterally proclaimed independence, stating that it was the first time that China participated in a written or oral debate before the International Court of Justice.

“We believe that the path of negotiations between the Serbian side and Kosovo’s temporary institutions is the only way to reach an acceptable solution for both sides. China is a country that leads equal principles towards the entire world. Its support of Serbia is not due to traditional friendship, but has to do with the preservation of international law and international relation norms, and preserving the authority of the UN,” he added.