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The Government of the Republic of Serbia

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Abolishment of tariffs necessary for continuation of dialogue with Pristina

Belgrade/Washington, 19 July 2019

First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said that he used his visit to Washington to have talks with senior US officials about the situation in the region and noted that that the position of Serbia regarding the dialogue with Pristina is judged favourably.

After the meetings in Washington, Dacic said that the talks were very good and that he had spoken with US President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton, Assistant Secretary of State Philippe Ricker and Senator Ron Johnson.

It is clearly indicated who is guilty of ending the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina and it is clearly indicated what the next steps are, which means that the tariffs must be abolished in order for the dialogue to continue, Dacic underlined.

In that sense all the talks were very useful, Dacic said and added that he had presented once again the position of Serbia - that we are ready to continue the dialogue, but that we do not accept the unilateral acts of Pristina that show that they do not want any compromise.

Dacic also added that National Security Adviser John Bolton pointed out that the US administration places finding a peaceful and durable solution to the Kosovo problem high on the list of US foreign policy priorities.

The First Deputy Prime Minister said he expects more US involvement in the coming period in order to exert additional pressure on Pristina to abolish tariffs and create conditions for the continuation of the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina.

He added that another reason for his visit to Washington was to attend a ministerial conference on the promotion of religious freedoms, which the United States is organising for the second time.

I have taken the opportunity to point to the difficult position of the Serbian Orthodox Church, of Serbian believers in Kosovo-Metohija, and to remind everyone of all the crimes that have occurred in Kosovo-Metohija against Christian believers and the facilities of the Serbian Orthodox Church, he said.

This year's conference gathered representatives from more than 100 countries, more than 20 foreign ministers were present and US Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke at the conference.