U.S. President Donald Trump (M), Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (L) and the head of government of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti
WASHINGTON, Sept 5 (NNN-Xinhua) — The leaders of Serbia and Kosovo agreed to economic normalization at a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in the White House on Friday.
With Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and the head of government of Kosovo Avdullah Hoti sitting aside, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that the two sides had committed to economic normalization.
“By focusing on job creation and economic growth, the two countries were able to reach a major breakthrough … on economic cooperation across a broad range of issues,” said Trump.
“We haven’t resolved all our problems. There are still differences,” said Vucic, but both he and Hoti noted that the economic normalization is “a huge step forward.”
The U.S.-backed economic deal also includes terms with Israel. Trump said that Serbia will move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem by next July and Kosovo and Israel have agreed to the normalization of ties.
The United States moved its embassy to Jerusalem over two years ago after a controversial decision to recognize the city as Israel’s capital. Palestinians see the eastern part of the city as the capital of their future state.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. — NNN-XINHUA
