December 20 (SeeNews) - US president Donald Trump has encouraged Serbia to seize the opportunity for reaching a deal on the normalisation of relations with Kosovo, the Serbian President's Office said on Thursday.
"As you enter the final phase on reaching an agreement with Kosovo that will bring long-sought peace to the region, I encourage you to seize this moment and to exercise the political leadership in making decisions needed to balance the interests of both countries," Trump said in a letter to his Serbian counterpart Aleksandar Vucic.
Tensions between Kosovo and Serbia rose last week when Kosovo's parliament adopted three laws initiating the process of the transformation of the Kosovo Security Force into a professional army. The decision of the parliament in Pristina was backed by the US, while NATO warned that it was ill-timed, as it risks heightening tensions with Serbia which does not recognise the independence of Kosovo.
In the letter, Trump urged Serbia and Kosovo to reach a normalisation agreement as soon as possible and to refrain from actions that make one more difficult to achieve. "It would be extremely regrettable to miss this unique opportunity for peace, security and economic growth," Trump said.
The letter also said Trump is looking forward to hosting Vucic and Kosovo President Hashim Thaci at the White House "to celebrate what would be an historic accord."
On Wednesday, Trump sent a letter to Thaci, urging Kosovo's leaders to seize the moment and reach a reconciliation agreement with Serbia.
Kosovo, considered a potential candidate for EU membership by the European Commission, unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has so far has been recognised by more than half of the 193 UN member states.