Reeker: Region's integration, US goal

Reeker: Region's integration, US goal

With the confirmation that the US are committed to our region and their goal is the integration of all countries in EU, US Deputy Assistant of State, Philip Reeker, reminds that even for Albania it is time to act.

"I think that EU has set out a very good list of recommendations, 12 recommendations that were needed to become a full candidate, to achieve candidate status and that's what the government should be focused on. The time is really now. We all know that there has been disappointment in the pace of reforms, they slowed greatly when politics got in the way of progress, when individual agendas and political parties took precedence over the well-being and the future of the whole country. And now is the opportunity to make some real strides, even in the next few weeks as EU officials have pointed out, before the European Commission issues its next progress-report with the hope that Albanian could achieve the candidate status by the end of this year and then move forward into the very difficult process necessary to begin excession talks and ultimately, as we have seen with other countries in the region, become full members," said Reeker.

In an exclusive interview for "Bugajski Hour" in Albanian Screen, the senior US diplomat presented US vision for the solution of regional conflicts. He took as example the EU countries that even though were enemies in the Second World War, today cooperate closely for standards of living and consolidated economy. This is the suggestion he offers for Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Macedonia and Greece.

"As the other countries in the Western Europe have demonstrated, these things can be overcome by taking a new approach, by putting the past behind and looking towards the future. This is what our goal has been in terms of encouraging integration, Euro-Atlantic integration," says Reeker.

In his interview with the known American political analyst, Janusz Bugajski, the senior diplomat talked about the US-EU coordination. Mr. Reeker said, "we have determined long ago that it is in our interest, as well as the interest of all Europe, of the all transAtlantic, trans-European space to bring these countries of the Western Balkans into these institutions, so we can coordinate closely. Our assistance program, the billions of dollars that the US has invested in this region since the early '90s, are all designed to help these countries meet the requirements and expectations, to help them on their reform agenda for EU membership, and of course, NATO membership is a very much part of that".

Asked by Bugajski if US will withdraw from the region to leave this duty to an insecure EU, the senior US official said, " I think you just have to look at the progress that has been made. There are still challenges, as you've pointed out in this region. There are still issues that need to be and should be resolved, but you don't have a threat of war and major violence and the US is very committed to this region. Secretary Clinton takes a great interest in this region," said US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State.

After his 5-day visit in Albania, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State will go to Kosovo. What is the goal of this visit?

"This time I will be going to meet with the International Steering Group where we expect to take a decision to end supervision of Kosovo's independence, that would mean the end of the International Civilian Office and as we have already seen, Kosovo's Parliament had taken steps to approve constitutional amendments and legislation necessary to take over these requirements in line with the comprehensive settlement proposal. And so, it's an important time for Kosovo. It shows that they have made great strides in their over four years of independence, but of course, there's much more to do and they will have to be focused and disciplined in working together, in setting aside petty politics and individual agendas in working for the common good of the country", said Reeker.

Mr. Reeker visited Belgrade for the last time after Nikolic's election. In the interview for Albanian Scren he talks about the way he sees relation between Serbia and Kosovo.

"I think it would be important for Serbia and its new government to focus on normalization of the relationship and the context with Prishtina. This is what the European Union has made very clear. It is necessary for Serbia to take the next steps towards its goal of European Union membership. Serbia achieved candidacy status earlier this year and in order to move into the excession process, Brussels has been very clear along with member states that certain reforms are going to take place and there is going to be progress in dialogue with Prishtina. I think it's very doable, I think we saw a number of agreements that were reached through the EU-led dialogue earlier this year . Those agreements need to be fully implemented as a very first step and then we can take the next steps to come to a more normal situation," said Reeker.

With the suggestion for meeting reforms in the interest of citizens, US Deputy Assistant Secretary, Philip Reeker said that US expect to be friends to Albania in the process that opens the path to new direction in the next 100 years of the Albanian state.